Adele has revealed how the ‘brutal’ fan backlash prompted by the cancellation of her Las Vegas residency in January left her feeling like a ‘shell of a person’.
She describes the process of dealing with the consequences of the three-month absence from performances as something she calls grieving.
Desert Island Discs, Radio 4, today: “The reaction was brutal. brutal.”
“I was just a shell of myself for two months. I just had to wait it out and just grieve it, I guess – just grieve the shows and get over the guilt. However, it was quite brutal.
The London-born singer, best known for hits such as Rolling In The Deep, Skyfall, Hello and Easy On Me, pulled the plug on the shows at Caesars Palace on January 20 – 24 hours before they were due to begin.
Adele revealed that the “brutal” fan backlash that prompted her cancellation of her Las Vegas residency last January made her feel like a “shell of a human being”.
The staging of the show, in which the singer sang songs in a fake swimming pool, was not what the star wanted. Her decision angered fans who had spent thousands travelling long distances for the gigs.
A defiant Adele – who performed over the past two nights in London’s Hyde Park – says the decision to cancel the shows was not an easy one, but on balance she thought it had been the right thing to do.
She adds: ‘I definitely felt everyone’s disappointment and I was devastated, and I was frightened about letting them down and I thought I could pull it together and make it work and I couldn’t – and I stand by that decision.
‘You can’t buy me – you can’t buy me for nothing. I won’t do a show just because it’s necessary or to make money. It’s like “The show’s too bad.” ‘
Grammy winner and Oscar nominee, the Grammy and Oscar Winner also discusses how it was for her to feel terrible after losing seven stone. This upset many of her younger body conscious fans.
According to some reports, she was unhappy about the way the song were performed. She sang them in a fake swimming pool. Her decision angered fans who had spent thousands travelling long distances for the gigs.
Last year’s Vogue cover featured the singer’s slimmer figure. She expressed sadness at learning that some of her fans had lost 100 pounds. She said, “I did this on my own.”
“But I felt awful for certain people who believed that others’ comments were a sign that they didn’t look good or weren’t beautiful.”
However, the megastar of 34 years dismisses claims that her transformation was a result of social pressure.
Some of those that I saw were just 15 or less. Some other people felt betrayed, such as, “Oh, she’s giving in to the pressure of it”, which did not really bother me.
“Because you’re not holding my hand at 4am at night when I’m wailing with anxiety, needing to be distracted and such like.
According to her, despite all her difficulties she found a sense of calm in her life thanks to “a lot of therapy”.
Elle adds, “I won’t place myself in situations that drain me.” It is going to be over. I select the people in my life very carefully.
Adele, who is known for her long absence from the media, says that Rich Paul, an American sports agent, helped her become less withdrawn.
The star – who has an amicable relationship with ex-husband Simon Konecki, the father of her nine-year-old son Angelo – says she wants more children.
I would definitely like to see a few more. If we could, it would be amazing. If not, I’ve got Angelo.’
According to the star, she believes that even though she suffers from stage fright and is not able to perform well onstage anymore it proves that she still cares. [nervous]Then I am done. It’s over.
Desert Island Discs will feature lAdele today at 11.15am. It will also repeat Friday morning at 9am.