Anita Baker Faces Backlash for Canceling ATL Concert Minutes Before Start

Anita Baker arrives to the Grammy Awards 2013 on February 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, CA. (Credit: Shutterstock)

Anita Baker was a no-show at a Mother’s Day weekend concert in Atlanta, leaving fans disappointed.

Baker, 66, was scheduled to perform at State Farm Arena on Saturday, May 11. But less than ten minutes before the scheduled starting time, attendees were told the concert wasn’t happening.

“Due to late, unforeseen circumstances, tonight’s ‘An Evening with Anita Baker’ event featuring eight-time Grammy Award-winning superstar Anita Baker set to take place at State Farm Arena has been canceled,” the arena said in a statement. “Refunds will be returned at point of purchase.”

Related StoryAnita Baker Drops Babyface From Tour Due to ‘Cyber Bullying’ by His Fans

No additional details were given as to why the “Sweet Love” singer wasn’t able to perform.

The concert was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET, with doors opening an hour earlier, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Instead, State Farm Arena and Live Nation announced the cancellation at 6:54 p.m.

Fans took to X/Twitter to express their anger.

“Yallllllllll why Anita Baker cancelled this f—king concert right before it was supposed to start,” X user @LoveKy0415 posted.

“Soooo Mom’s Mother’s Day Present was tickets to the Anita Baker concert tonight, and after making us stand there for over 30 minutes after doors were supposed to open they just CANCELLED the concert outright. I feel bad for the arena staff tho bc people are NOT happy,” added X user @stars_gal.

But another fan said they were concerned about the R&B legend’s health.

“I’m going to say a prayer that everything is ok with Anita Baker. She’s been touring for years, so if she cancelled a show there must have been a reason. The woman while being a living legend is also human. I hope people understand that and give her grace,” wrote @XeMurray.

Baker made headlines on May 10, 2023 after an incident involving Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds at a concert in Newark, New Jersey.

The “Caught Up in the Rapture” singer said she was being “bullied” online by the “Tender Lover” artist’s fans because he was dropped from a show at the Prudential Center.

Babyface had been scheduled to open as a surprise guest on Baker’s tour, but that night his set didn’t happen. Babyface took to Twitter to say his performance was scrapped so headliner Baker could perform because the show started late due to reported technical issues.

“I am truly sorry to my fans who have been waiting for us to hit the stage this evening at @PruCenter. I was asked not to perform in order to give Ms. Baker her space and time to perform her show in its entirety,” Babyface tweeted. “My band and I are extremely saddened we didn’t get to perform for y’all tonight.”

After facing anger from the iconic singer-songwriter’s fans, Baker dropped him from future tour dates.

“After Silently Enduring Cyber Bullying/Verbal Abuse & Threats of Violence from the Fan Base of Our Special Guest/Support Act. In the Interest of Personal Safety. I will continue, ‘The Songstress Tour,’ alone. Appropriate refunds will be made. Blessings,” she said in a statement at the time.

Babyface then released a statement, saying he was “saddened by the news.”


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