Bollywood singer Neha Kakkar found herself at the center of controversy after arriving three hours late for her Melbourne concert. Viral videos captured the emotional moment when Kakkar, overwhelmed by the backlash, broke down in tears while apologizing to the disappointed audience.
What Went Wrong at Neha Kakkar’s Concert?
The incident occurred during Kakkar’s highly anticipated concert in Melbourne, following a successful show in Sydney the night before. As the singer finally took the stage after the prolonged delay, frustrated fans expressed their displeasure, with some booing and others shouting, “Go back!” Their disappointment was palpable as the delay tested their patience.
Acknowledging the frustration, the 36-year-old singer addressed the audience, attempting to explain the unforeseen delay. Fighting back tears, she said, “You have been really sweet and patient. Itni der se aap log wait kar rahe ho [You have been waiting for so long]. I hate it. Maine life mein kabhi kisi ko wait nahi karwaya [I’ve never made anyone wait in my entire life].” She continued, “Aap itne der se wait kar rahe ho [You have been waiting for so long]. I’m so sorry. You mean the world to me. Aap log itne sweet ho [You people are so sweet]. I was worried about what would happen. It means a lot to me. I’ll always remember this evening forever. But I’ll make sure, aap log jo mere liye itna keemati time nikaal ke aaye ho [that you have taken out your precious time for me], I will make you all dance.”
Fans React to Neha Kakkar’s Apology
While some fans softened after Kakkar’s emotional speech, many remained frustrated. Some attendees heckled her, shouting, “This isn’t India, you’re in Australia. Go back and take a rest. We waited for over two hours. Very good acting. Yeh Indian Idol nahi hai [This isn’t Indian Idol].”
On social media, the backlash intensified. One attendee shared a photo from the concert with the caption, “Came up the stage at 10 PM for a 7:30 show. Then doing drama of crying… Wrapped up in less than an hour. Such a crap concert… Heights of unprofessionalism.” Another user wrote, “Three hours late? That’s so unprofessional. The least she can do is refund.”
Others compared her emotional moment to reality TV antics, with one comment reading, “First she used to do this in TV shows, now she’s doing it on concert stages too.”
Tony Kakkar Steps In to Defend His Sister
Amid growing criticism, Neha’s brother, singer and composer Tony Kakkar, came to her defense. In an Instagram post, he hinted that logistical failures by event organizers were responsible for the delay rather than Neha herself.
“Suppose I invite you to my city for an event and take full responsibility for all arrangements—booking your hotel, car, airport pickup, and tickets. Now, imagine you arrive only to find that nothing has been booked. No car at the airport, no hotel reservation, and no tickets. In that situation, who is to blame?” he wrote.
Although Tony did not directly name anyone, fans speculated that he was blaming the event organizers for the chaos. His post shifted some of the criticism away from Neha, with fans expressing their support. One comment read, “Yeh toh galat baat hai… Event management ko dhyan rakhna chahiye! [This is absolutely wrong… The event management team should have been careful]. This insults the artist!” Another added, “Finally, the truth is out. It wasn’t Neha’s fault after all.”
Despite the defense from her brother and some fans, Neha Kakkar continues to face criticism from concertgoers and social media users. The incident has sparked a debate over professionalism in the entertainment industry and the responsibilities of event organizers.
