{"id":161170,"date":"2015-10-21T07:20:06","date_gmt":"2015-10-21T07:20:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=161170"},"modified":"2015-10-21T07:20:06","modified_gmt":"2015-10-21T07:20:06","slug":"fans-left-weeping-as-one-direction-cancels-belfast-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/10\/fans-left-weeping-as-one-direction-cancels-belfast-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Fans \u2018left weeping\u2019 as One Direction cancels Belfast show"},"content":{"rendered":"
One Direction have cancelled a Belfast concert at the last minute after band member Liam Payne became sick and could not go on stage.<\/p>\n
They had been due to play the first of three gigs at the SSE Arena on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The cancellation announcement was made at about 21:00 BST, when most of the audience was already inside the venue.<\/p>\n
Disappointed fans booed as staff instructed them to leave the venue and one witness said “hundreds” of girls and women had been left weeping.<\/p>\n
Concert promoter Aiken PR said: “The show tonight has been cancelled as Liam has taken ill, and whilst not serious, he is unable to perform tonight.”<\/p>\n
Fans have been asked to hold on to their tickets and wait for further information, with a statement expected on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the band, who are undergoing a final tour before taking their first break next year since forming on X Factor in 2010, apologised to their fans.<\/p>\n
And on his Twitter account, Harry Styles wrote: “Deepest apologies to everyone at the show tonight in Belfast. Very disappointed, but unfortunately these things happen. We’re very sorry.”<\/p>\n
Band mate Louis Tomlinson tweeted: “We’re so so sorry for what happened tonight, it was out of our control! Lots of love to Liam and thank you for being so understanding!”<\/p>\n
Audience members had already gathered inside the concert venue, and had listened to the band’s support act, before the cancellation announcement was made.<\/p>\n
Some expressed anger at the timing.<\/p>\n