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Paula Abdul is axing dates on her Straight Up! To Canada Tour, including one in London, after suffering a slew of injuries.
The 62-year-old pop star shared the news in an Instagram post in which she apologized to her “amazing fans.” She was scheduled to play London’s Budweiser Gardens on Oct. 19.
“It’s with an incredibly heavy heart that I need to share with you an update regarding some injuries I’ve recently sustained. In an effort to keep going, I’ve received targeted injections that will allow me temporary relief, but the demands of an entire tour is a different story,” she wrote.
“After multiple consultations with my doctors and exploring all available options, I’ve been advised that one of my injuries requires a minor procedure followed by a 6-8 week recovery time, therefore it will prohibit me from proceeding with the Straight Up! To Canada Tour as well as the dates in Alaska and North Dakota.”
After Abdul played in Toronto last month with New Kids on the Block, she said the cancellation of her solo cross-Canada tour “truly breaks my heart.”
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While the Grammy winner advised ticket purchasers to seek refunds, Abdul did promise she won’t be sidelined for long, telling fans she’ll be back onstage as quickly as she can.
Abdul was slated to perform in 21 Canadian cities beginning in Victoria, B.C., later this month. Her trek was set to end in Sydney, N.S., on Oct. 26.
Abdul launched her career in the ’80s as a choreographer and a famed Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader before making the leap to music in 1988 with her debut album Forever Your Girl, which included the hit song Cold Hearted. In the ’90s, her hit streak continued with Spellbound and Head Over Heels.
She also served as one of the original judges on American Idol and appeared on So You Think You Can Dance and the American version of The X Factor.
Last year, Abdul accused Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault.
In a lawsuit filed in December 2023, Abdul alleged that Lythgoe, 75, sexually assaulted her twice during her stints as a judge on both Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.
Lythgoe said in a statement that he was “shocked and saddened” to hear of the allegations made by Abdul, who he said he considered a “dear” and “entirely platonic” friend.
“While Paula’s history of erratic behaviour is well known, I can’t pretend to understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit that she must know is untrue,” Lythgoe said in the statement. “But I can promise that I will fight this appalling smear with everything I have.”
In her lawsuit, Abdul said she remained silent for years about the alleged assaults out of fear of retaliation by “one of the most well-known producers of television competition shows.”
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