To think it's fair play to take the better offer?

[Midge1978]

Imelda May cancelled a gig on Saturday at the last moment. She was headlining a festival in a small town in the midlands and cancelled it as she had been invited at the last minute to sing the Irish national anthem at the boxing match between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas.

She has apologised saying that she felt duty called and she felt it was the biggest sporting event in her small island's history etc. Yet her Facebook feed is full of vitriol from disappointed fans. Yes of course it's gutting for her real fans and very stressful for event organisers but could they realistically expect her to turn down more money and more exposure for less work? Give the woman a break - she did what anyone would do, surely?!

Dont know who she is but sounds like a breach of contract. Can't think it would be good for her reputation.

I think the festival goers had a lucky escape. She was pretty shit when I saw her at Hebcelt festival earlier this summer. Also, it's incredibly bad form to renege on a prior arrangement.

Must read the OP more closely! I read gig and thought concert not festival. Not quite as bad as wasn't the only act, but she was the headline act so its still poor form.

Done now though. How she handles it forwards and works the publicity machine could be the making of her.

I did not do it for money by the way. I did not do it for fame. I am fully aware my performance will be probably forgotten in 2seconds. . I simply felt duty called...

Oh - FFS. "Duty called". She wasn't going to Afghanistan to defend her country. She wasn't donating bone marrow to a dying child. Of course she did it for the money and fame. If you are going to do something like that - at least own the decision!

The gig still went ahead and they found a replacement who by all accounts was amazing.

Surely that's personal opinion not everyone will have felt the same

It's bad form, but if you're going to do it, at least own it and don't make up some crap about national pride.

Snort at the idea that this fight is the biggest sporting event in the island's history! Particularly as it took place in Las Vegas, half a world away!

Also how was this invite so last minute? Did the organisers just wake up on the morning of the fight and think - shit, we need people to sing the national anthem?! Apparently Bono was asked to sing but was going to attend a friend's wedding but that must also have been an equally last-minute request to him.

Anyway, her rendition of the anthem was truly dreadful so can't imagine it, or abandoning her previously-arranged festival appearance, is going to do her career much good. And the organisers of the festival will probably sue her for breach of contract.

She probably felt pressured to make up a noble sounding reason because of all the anger from people who had bought tickets just to see her. For some reason people expect musicians not to go for the money. They're only human.

No idea who you are talking about. But, surely. a commitment is a commitment.

Imelda - do you want to sing the nation anthem for €xxxxxxxxxxx or do a gig for €x

I used to work in a nursing home and subsidise my poor wages by doing agency shifts, which paid far more.

So, if I got offered an agency shift, and sacked my normal nursing home shift off to earn extra money, would that be ok?

I don't think so.

This is the same situation!!

But for those going for her they spent their money for her so their money is obviously not good enough/ valued as much so I guess they see It as a slight that they're actual fans and she went to perform for more people who neither know or care who she is

Exactly I think it's daft for people to expect otherwise. She's here to earn money pure and simple- if you want loyalty get a dog ffs!

If she's there to make money, she shouldn't be so short sighted. Does she realise she makes money because of her fans, many of whom she's now pissed off?

For some reason people expect musicians not to go for the money. They're only human - it's got nothing to do with her being a musician. People expect other people to honour contractual commitments.

Pffff, money and publicity called, not duty. There were no other Irish singers available?

There were no other Irish singers available? - yes, why wasn't Daniel O'Donnell asked?

It should be some comfort to them that she fucking butchered the anthem.

Does she realise she makes money because of her fans, many of whom she's now pissed off?

In fairness, the vast majority of her fanbase are Irish - she's had a TV show in Ireland and everything. So doubt she's gonna lose many fans by this tbh.

no sorry duty call is crap

it wasnt th fucking olympics-shes out of order an serves her right if theres a backlash

Never heard of her and I think she may live to regret letting her fans down, who I reckon will be less inclined next time to pay for tickets, travel, hotels etc. Her loss.

Heap o' shite. Money and fame. Simple. 'Duty called'. So funny. Duty called? To sing? Duty called. Bollocks. Money and fame. Money and fame.

I didn't think her rendition was that great either. I saw headlines about how great it was, and emotional yadda yadda. No it wasn't. It was fair only. Those festival goers didn't miss out on anything.

It was very poor form of her to dump an existing commitment for what she clearly saw as a better one. Rude and unreliable.

I also think it's poor form to sing at an event which celebrates how good a domestic abuser is with his fists, but that's another matter.

If I was an existing fan of hers (I'm not), I'd never bother with her again.

Never heard of her, but it sounds like she shot herself in the foot.

It's sort of accepted in the industry to honour what's in the book.

Another who has never heard of her, so can understand the call of exposure and more money, but saying it was 'call of duty' is ridiculous.
However, I can't understand how she wasn't aware she had the gig before 'the last minute', if it was supposed to be such a big event.