What was supposed to be a triumphant weekend for Reneé Rapp at two of England's most storied festivals instead turned into a waterlogged nightmare for the “Not My Fault” singer when torrential rain and technical difficulties overcame the her expected debut in Reading and Leeds.
As is often the case during the English summer festival season, the heavens opened this weekend, causing Rapp's set in Leeds on Friday to be canceled after a lengthy rain delay. In a screenshot of an Instagram Story message to fans, Rapp wrote: “Leeds, the weather has been too dangerous for our crew or me to set up/access the stage all morning… I'm so sorry to miss you, but your safety and the safety of my team is of the utmost importance and I can't risk loving you and seeing you at the reading.”
However, the Bad Girls Star's Reading festival which aired on Sunday was similarly plagued by a series of technical issues due to the storm, leading to the set being halted. According to setlist.fm, Rapp opened with “Talk Too Much” but had to restart due to sound problems. “Guys, I really really want to give you a good show. Um… we're drowning. Some of our equipment is worn out,” Rapp told the crowd via fan-filmed video. “But we really want to give you a good show. So if you don't mind, we'll reboot with “Not My Fault”. And if I slip and fall, it's not my safety. I don't pay for this st.”
It then went through “Poison Poison” before stopping to let crews get out and dry off the waterlogged tent as a result of the effects of Storm Lilian. The set then reportedly ended abruptly during “Not My Fault,” which was cut short before Rapp left the stage. Reading organizers – who had earlier apologized to Lana Del Rey for interrupting her set and abruptly shutting down her microphone – thanked Rapp for her professionalism.
“We would like to thank Reneé Rapp for her persistence and professionalism in the midst of the technical difficulties we had to continue to face from Storm Lilian,” the statement read. “We desperately hope, as you do, that he returns to R&L in the future.”
Check out fan reposts with messages from the festivals and some of Rapp's performances below.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/renee-rapp-apology-reading-festival-technical-difficulties-leeds-cancelled-rain-1235760792/
