The Usher-headlined Lovers & Friends festival has been canceled due to what the organizers are calling “dangerous” weather, and this latest cancelation is raising eyebrows amongst fans who have watched the festival seemingly implode well before any storms.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday (May 4), the official account of the festival made the announcement, as many fans shared that they were already on their way to the show.
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“Lovers & Friends Festival has unfortunately been canceled due to dangerous weather predicted for Saturday,” the organizers wrote. “Fans who purchased tickets directly through Front Gate Tickets will receive a refund within 30 days. For more info: http://loversandfriends.com”
Check out their announcement below.
Lovers & Friends Festival has unfortunately been canceled due to dangerous weather predicted for Saturday. Fans who purchased tickets directly through Front Gate Tickets will receive a refund within 30 days. For more info: https://t.co/ip1MLPJL0mpic.twitter.com/Koo5ZirzmG
— Lovers & Friends Festival (@lvrsnfrndsfest) May 4, 2024
The website address in the festival’s cancelation announcement tweet is apparently incorrect, though they included the correct website in a follow-up message.
“[T]he National Weather Service has now issued a High Wind Warning, including dangerous 30-35 mph sustained winds with gusts potentially more than 60 mph. Following advice from the National Weather Service and in consultation with local public officials, we must make the safest decision for our fans, artists, and staff, and cancel tomorrow’s Lovers & Friends Festival,” the site reads, in part.
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While Usher, Lil Wayne, and Nas were amongst the top acts listed for the now-aborted festival, it had been plagued with lineup problems from the beginning.
Shortly after Mary J. Blige was announced as part of the lineup back in January, the 53-year-old singer made it clear that she will not be taking the stage at the Lovers & Friends festival in Las Vegas this May. While she was billed alongside titans such as Lil Wayne, Nas, Ludacris, Nelly and Snoop Dogg, Mary has revealed that she was not scheduled to appear at the event, as it conflicts with a project of her own.
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“I am beyond humbled by the response from all of you about the announcement of me on Lovers & Friends Festival,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “Unfortunately my inclusion was an error as I will be busy in preparation for my Strength of a Woman Summit just one week later!
“I have the greatest fans in the world and can’t wait to see you in New York in a few short months!”
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Then, in February, Monica revealed that she was just as surprised as her fans about the booking.
“Well, I’m looking forward to the festival. I’m thinking that maybe someone will call me and actually book me — the correct way,” she said when asked about her involvement with the Las Vegas festival.
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“I don’t have any beef with them. We did great business before, so if you give me a call, we can work it out.”
Just days prior to Monica’s announcement, Juvenile took to Instagram to call out organizers of the Las Vegas festival for his inclusion in the promotional materials.
“Here we go again, man” Juvie began his video. “These cats at Lovers & Friends — whoever in charge of Lovers & Friends, man, y’all doing bad business, man. Y’all done put my name on a flyer and y’all know you ain’t sent me no deposit, ain’t sent me no bread or nothin’.
“[Y’all] keep on playing games, talking ’bout y’all gonna get back at me. Look, y’all playing games with the wrong muthafucka, man. If y’all gon’ book me — if y’all not gon’ book me, take my muthafuckin’ name off y’all flyer. I ain’t got no problem with that, I could do something else with my time.”
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He concluded: “I ain’t trippin’. But don’t put my fuckin’ name on y’all flyers if y’all know you ain’t paid me no money. That’s fucked up.”
