The British pop star Lola Young has canceled a second show in just three days, following an unexpected collapse onstage at a music festival in Queens this past Saturday.
On Sunday, Young, widely recognized for her hit song “Messy,” shared on Instagram that she would be unable to perform at the All Things Go festival in Columbia, Maryland. She expressed regret to her fans, stating, “I love this job and I never take my commitments and audience for granted.” While not giving a specific reason for the cancellation, the 24-year-old artist pleaded with online critics, “To all the people that love to be mean online, pls give me a day off.”
This Maryland cancellation came directly after her collapse at another installment of the All Things Go festival in Forest Hills, Queens. This also followed her earlier decision to cancel a performance at the “We Can Survive” concert in Newark’s Prudential Center, which her representative attributed to “a sensitive matter.”
Videos shared across social media platforms depict Young appearing to speak to a band member during her performance of “Conceited” before suddenly falling backward. Stage crew members promptly rushed to her side and helped her offstage.
Later that Saturday night, Young updated fans via an Instagram story, assuring them she was “doing okay now” and grateful for their support, though she did not specify the cause of her collapse.
Neither Young’s representatives nor the All Things Go festival organizers have yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.
Following the initial, abrupt cancellation of her New Jersey performance on Friday, Young’s manager, Nick Shymansky, released a statement on social media. Shymansky explained that Young is very open about her mental health, and there are times when he and his team must take “protective measures to keep her safe.” He further praised her, saying she is “an incredible person and always takes her fans, career and performances seriously,” offering “huge apologies for the inconvenience caused.”
Before her collapse on Saturday, Young addressed the audience directly about a “tricky couple of days.” She shared, “Sometimes life can really make you feel like you can’t continue. Today, I woke up and made the decision to come here.” She emphasized her resolve not to “wallow” in sadness, urging the crowd to “make lemonade” when life throws “lemons,” punctuated with a strong expletive.
Young is known for her deeply personal artistry, often using her lyrics to explore private experiences, including her journey to sobriety. A recent profile highlighted the pressures in her life, noting her history of substance abuse and mental illness, including diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder and ADHD during her teenage years.
Shymansky, who previously managed Amy Winehouse—a British singer who tragically passed away at 27 in 2011 after struggles with addiction—expressed his belief in Young’s resilience. He stated that he believes she can “work with her mental health stuff, work with her demons — I believe she can grow, be huge.” He concluded by saying, “I want her to have it in 2025 in a way that Amy could never have it.”