The 2020 Met Gala won’t be happening on the first Monday of May (May 4) as originally planned.
Vogue announced that fashion’s biggest night has been postponed indefinitely due to the growing Coronavirus concerns.
Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour confirmed the news in a piece she wrote. “One day that will not arrive on schedule will be the opening of the Costume Institute’s exhibition, About Time. Due to the unavoidable and responsible decision by the Metropolitan Museum to close its doors, About Time, and the opening night gala, will be postponed to a later date,” she wrote before assuring fans, “In the meantime, we will give you a preview of this extraordinary exhibition in our forthcoming May issue.”
The postponement comes after The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the gala is held, announced that it will be closing its doors to the public.
“The museum will remain closed through Saturday, April 4. Additionally, the CDC advised over the weekend that there should not be any gatherings of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks. In deference to this guidance, all programs and events through May 15 will be canceled or postponed,” a spokesperson for the Met said in a statement.
Many other events have also announced that they will be rescheduling to a later date, including The ACM awards, Nickelodeon’s 2020 Kids’ Choice Awards, 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards, and PaleyFest 2020.
Coachella and Stagecoach, which was originally scheduled for April, was set to be headlined by Rage Against The Machine, Travis Scott, and Frank Ocean. The two festivals are among the latest events to proactively cancel public gatherings over fears that attendees could possibly spread the virus. South by Southwest, Miami’s Ultra Music Festival and France’s Tomorrowland Winter 2020 have also announced that they will be cancelling their upcoming events as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread all over the world.
Many other film and television projects have also halted production, including, Mission: Impossible 7, The Amazing Race, Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Riverdale. The Batman and Jurassic World: Dominion productions have likewise been delayed.
Sports events have also been affected, with the NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS suspending the rest of the season.
A number of late-night shows and daytime talk shows, which usually shoots its episodes with a live studio audience, have also announced that they will be taping shows without a studio audience.
The Today show has already suspended taping with a live studio audience on Thursday (March 12).
The Wendy Williams Show has also announced that they will continue taping shows, only without a live audience.
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver and Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen is suspending live audiences beginning Sunday (March 15).
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night With Seth Meyers, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show will also begin taping episodes without an audience beginning Monday (March 16).
Many musical acts have announced cancellations of their concerts, including the ff:
BTS has announced that their April Seoul dates for their Map of The Soul tour will not push through and tickets will be refunded. Their world tour was supposed to kick off in Seoul’s Jamsil Olympic Stadium on the following dates: April 11, 12, 18, 19. Due to the circumstances, the Map Of The World tour will now begin in Santa Clara, California, on April 25.
The K-Pop group’s official Twitter account said:
“It is unavoidable that the concert must be canceled without further delay. Please understand that this decision was made after extensive and careful consideration.”
Avril Lavigne has likewise cancelled her Asia concerts, as well as her shows in Italy and France.
Ciara also announced that she was postponing her performance in her hometown of Fort Hood, Texas. She was slated to perform at the USO Center opening, but due to the outbreak and the fact that she’s with child, she was advised to limit travel and exposure.
British rapper Stormzy stated in his now-deleted Twitter account that he is postponing his planned Asia tour. Greenday has also postponed their tour of Asia.
Kacey Musgraves has called off her upcoming trip to Italy, while The National cancelled their tour stop in Japan. Ozzy Osbourne also decided to cancel his appearance at SXSW and Mariah Carey has postponed her upcoming show in Hawaii.
Miley Cyrus took to Twitter Monday (March 9) evening to announce that she would also be cancelling her upcoming concert Australia.
“Australia: Due to the recommendations of local, state, federal and international government authorities, including the Center for Disease Control, to reduce potential health risks in response to the current global health crisis, we are no longer traveling to Aus for the show,” Miley tweeted.
“I am so disappointed to not be there, but I have to do what is right to protect the health and safety of my band and crew. I will still be making a donation to help the victims of the Australian bush fire,” she added. “I’m sorry to miss everyone in Australia, but I will be back soon.”
Celine Dion came down with symptoms of the cold and had herself tested. The tests came back negative, but the singer will still be postponing her concerts in Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, March 11 and PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA on Friday, March 13, rescheduling both for November of this year.
“On Monday night, a day after completing a six-show run in the New York area, Celine began feeling the symptoms of a common cold. The symptoms persisted into Tuesday, and her doctors instructed her to rest for the next 5-7 days,” a statement posted to Dion’s FaceBook page explained on Tuesday. “After testing her, the doctors concluded that her virus was not related to COVID-19.”
“I’m so sorry for disappointing my fans in Washington D.C. and Pittsburgh,” Celine said in the statement. “I hope everyone understands.”
On Thursday (March 12), Billie Eilish announced that she would be postponing her Where Do We Go? Tour in the U.S. for the rest of March in an effort to keep her fans safe and healthy.
“i’m so sad to do this but we need to postpone these dates to keep everyone safe. we’ll let you know when they can be rescheduled. please keep yourselves healthy. i love you,” Billie wrote on her Instagram Story.
Affected tour dates are as follows:
03/13 – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA
03/15 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
03/16 – Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
03/18 – Capital One Center – Washington, DC
03/19 – TD Garden – Boston, MA
03/20 – Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY
03/23 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
03/24 – United Center – Chicago, IL
03/25 – Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
03/27 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
03/28 – Enterprise Center – St. Louis, MO
Louis Tomlinson has likewise postponed the European leg of his world tour.
The “Two of Us” singer made the announcement on Instagram along with the rescheduled tour dates for his concerts in Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam and Stockholm concerts.
“Can’t believe I’m having to write this but I’m very sad to say that after two incredible shows so far the rest of my mainland European tour shows have been rescheduled to August. I can’t wait to see you all soon. Louis x,” he wrote.
Maluma also went on Instagram to announce that his remaining shows in 14 European cities on the Maluma 11:11 World Tour 2020 will be postponed because they are “respecting the request of the European government with regards to the global COVID-19 health pandemic.”
Michael Buble has postponed his shows from March 17 through April 5. “I was looking forward to getting back on the road but the safety of my fans and my touring family of course take priority under the current circumstances. We will be coming back soon with new dates and everyone will be safe to enjoy a great night out. Stay well everyone,” Michael said in a press release.
Dan + Shay will be kicking off their Arena Tour in the summer instead of spring.
“Well, here we are. March 12, 2020, sitting in a bus parked outside Wells Fargo Center, making a statement we never thought we’d have to make. After the mandatory postponement of our Philadelphia show, and several others in the coming weeks, we have made the collective decision (with our team and health officials) to postpone the spring leg of THE (ARENA) TOUR,” they said in a statement. “These shows mean the world to us, and it was important that they be postponed and not canceled, but more than the shows, our fans mean the world to us, and protecting their safety is the number one priority. We want the shows to be memorable, and not experienced with fear.”
“Thank you all for your patience and understanding. It is a strange, strange time for all of us, but we felt this was the right thing to do,” they added. “Previously purchased tickets will be honored at all rescheduled dates. We hope everyone can make it. Keep an eye on venue websites for further information and updates. Stay safe out there.”
Blake Shelton was already gearing up for his show in Omaha, Nebraska before announcing that Thursday’s (March 12) show would be rescheduled – along with the rest of his shows on the tour.
“Omaha, I’m here in your city with my friends and heroes and am ready to play a show for you, but for all the right reasons – chiefly everyone’s safety and well-being – we have to reschedule tonight and the rest of the tour,” Blake tweeted.
Cher was heartbroken over having to cancel, but expressed that the safety of her fans came first.
“I’m heartbroken, but the health of my fans and my touring family comes first. The shows have been really special but, nothing is more important than everybody’s safety. I’m excited to see everyone when we’re back out on the road,” Cher said in a statement.
“I AM SO SORRY,BUT YOUR HEALTH IS PARAMOUNT. I HAVEN’T FELT SCARED,(In Crew We🛑💋ING & HOLDING🤲🏻,BUT ON STAGE WE’RE”FACE 2 FACE”,BUT 2DAY I HAD 2GO WITH MY GUT.CONCERTS R AMAZING FUN,BUT NOTHING IS WORTH YOUR HEALTH.I ♥️ALL OF YOU,BUT THIS MORNING IT FELT IT WASNT SAFE,” she followed up in a tweet.
The Jonas Brothers has also announced cancellation of their Las Vegas residency at Park MGM, which was originally set for April 1-18.
“We love you guys and we are praying for everyone’s safety and wellness,” they shared on Instagram. “We’ll see you soon.”
Stay safe, everyone.
