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?!

Love Imelda May usually but she didnt do the song Aran na Behan justice, terrible version

she would have been mad to turn it down

She doesn't give a shit about Irish loyalty crap, she was after the money, if she had any integrity she would have honored her first commitment

Astella, the Irish national anthem is called amhran na bhfiann, nothing to do with aran jumpers

Actually I think pulling out of a festival headliner is worse than pulling an ordinary gig.

If you have booked to see a gig & the artist cancels, you can get a refund.

I've booked for festivals solely because I wanted to see the headliner (or indeed someone lower on the line up). Quite happy to go along & see other acts always, but often would not have booked for that line up without the band I'm going for.

If they then cancel, you either don't bother & lose your money, or are left with an event you're 'meh' about & wouldn't ever have paid for & planned to attend.

Pretty shitty IMO. & will quite likely come back to bite her with fans & promoters in future.

On radio today, she said she only half knew the anthem , had to learn it on plane. Unimpressive to cancel.

Bono turned down this! Christ almighty that must be a first for him!

I reckon he'd lost his hat.

So she said duty called, but she didn't even know the words?

Ha not that patriotic then!

Bono, knob though he is, might actually not have wanted to sing for a boxing match. Particularly one between two pretty horrible individuals.

Yes but he's in a position where he can turn big gigs down.

I did not do it for money by the way

Yeah right.

I agree that it would be unrealistic to expect her to forego the opportunity for huge exposure and lots of money, but I think it's equally unrealistic for her to not have to expect to face up to the deserved flak online.

Vitriol is uncalled for, but there was an obvious reputational cost to this that she decided was worth it.