Singer Neha Kakkar found herself at the centre of controversy after allegedly arriving three hours late for her concert in Melbourne, Australia. Videos going viral online saw Kakkar breaking down in tears while offering a heartfelt apology to her restless audience who were left fuming.
For all those who missed the events unfolding online, here’s a detailed lowdown of all that went wrong.
What Was The Controversy About?
The incident occurred during Kakkar’s much-anticipated Melbourne concert, which followed a successful show in Sydney the previous day. Videos posted online gave netizens a glimpse of the tense atmosphere at the stadium, with audience members audibly booing and others shouting, “Go back!” as Kakkar took the stage late.
Faced with the backlash, the 36-year-old singer addressed the audience directly, attempting to explain her 3 hour delay.
Neha Kakkar’s Emotional Apology
The angry and restless audience left the singer visibly emotional as she struggled to hold back tears while speaking to the crowds. Acknowledging their patience and frustration, she defended herself saying that she had never made anyone wait so long. She was heard saying on the microphone, “You have been really sweet and patient. Itni der se aap log wait kar rahe ho (you have been waiting for so long). I hate it. Maine life mein kabhi kisi ko wait nahi karwaya (I’ve never made anyone wait in my entire life).”
She continued, “Aap itne der se wait kar rahe ho (You have been waiting for so long). I’m so sorry. You mean the world to me. Aap log itne sweet ho (You people are so sweet). I was so worried about ki kya hoga (I was worried what would happen). It means a lot to me. I’ll always remember this evening forever. But I’ll make sure, aap log jo mere liye itna keemati time nikaal ke aaye ho (that you have taken out your precious time for me), I will make you all dance.”
Mixed Reactions to Neha’s Apology
While Kakkar’s emotional speech seemed to have pacified a section of the audience, many others remained disgruntled and criticized her, saying, “This isn’t India, you’re in Australia. Go back and take rest. We waited for over two hours. Very good acting. Yeh Indian Idol nahi hai (This isn’t Indian Idol).”
On social media, the backlash intensified. One attendee shared a photo of Kakkar on stage, captioning it, “Came up the stage at 10 pm for a 7:30 show. Then doing drama of crying… Wrapped up in less than an hour. Such a crap concert… Heights is unprincipled (sic).”
A user wrote, “3 hr late???? Damn that’s so unprofessionalism. The least she can do is refund.” Another netizen commented, “First she used to do in TV shows, now she’s doing it on concert podiums as well.”
Another fan described the event as a “waste of time and money.”
Tony Kakkar Defends His Sister
Amid the mounting criticism, Neha’s brother, singer and composer Tony Kakkar, stepped in to defend her. Taking to his Instagram handle, he posted a statement suggesting that logistical failures by the event organisers were to blame for the delay.
“Suppose I invite you to my city for an event and take full responsibility for all arrangements—booking your hotel, car, airport pickup, and tickets. Now, imagine you arrive only to find that nothing has been booked. No car at the airport, no hotel reservation, and no tickets. In that situation, who is to blame?” Tony wrote.
Although he didn’t take names, fans were quick to connect the dots and suspect that his post tried to explain Neha’s delayed arrival.
Fans Rally in Support of Neha
Tony’s post prompted an outpouring of support for Neha, with some shifting the blame toward the event management team. One fan commented, “Yeh toh absolutely galat baat hai… Event management ko dhyan rakhna chahiye! This insults the artist!” Another added, “Finally, the truth is out.”
