SO SAD: Lewis Capaldi breaks down as he admits fear he wouldn’t perform again after Tourette’s diagnosis
While performing at BST Hyde Park this weekend, Lewis Capaldi became emotional as he reflected on his health struggles and the fact he had to take some time off in recent years
Lewis Capaldi broke down in tears at his BST Hyde Park show after admitting he “didn’t know” if it “would be possible” for him to perform again after his Tourette’s diagnosis.
The 29-year-old singer, who is performing two dates at the gig in London, became emotional on Saturday night as he reflected on his journey over the past few years. Lewis was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome in September 2022. The neurological disorder causes involuntary muscle tics, such as shoulder twitching, head movements, and eye blinking.
He initially went public with his diagnosis to stop people from mistakenly assuming his tics were caused by drug use. He later revealed that his symptoms worsen significantly when he is on stage performing.
During his set at Glastonbury Festival in June 2023, he experienced severe tics that made it difficult to sing. His dedicated fans rallied to support him, singing the rest of his hit Someone You Loved for him. After that performance, Lewis took an extended hiatus from touring and live shows to focus on his mental and physical health.
But as he took to the stage on July 11, he was overcome with emotion. “To be here with you all and to be able to…” the singer said before pausing briefly. “I didn’t know if this would be possible again so to be here it’s really special for me,” he admitted.
Earlier in the evening, he asked his fans to stay throughout his performance, while joking that the crowd would likely leave early to watch the World Cup match between England and Norway, the Daily Mail reported. He said: “Thank you for being here! Although I know a lot of you might leave when the England game comes on.
“Let’s not get into it. I’m Scottish, most of you guys are English. Can’t we all live in peace and harmony? It’s coming home.”
He added: “But it’s f*****g special that you’re here, I appreciate you being here when you could be anywhere else. Even if you do go to the pub early… I mean, stay please, as many of you stay until the end as possible.”
The performance came just days after Lewis reportedly spent £2,000 on drinks for England fans at the Marlborough pub in Mayfair after the Three Lions beat Mexico on Monday. A source told The Sun that after the final whistle, Lewis bought every single person a drink as bar staff were instructed to charge all the drinks ordered to him.
“It was a massive treat and a real lovely gesture, especially from a Scotland fan,” the insider said, adding that Lewis watched the match from kick-off with his friends and was joined by Rita Ora, who was with her pals, as the night went on.
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This week, Lewis also returned to Newcastle for the first time in three years and during his performance at Exhibition Park, he said it “means a lot” for him to be able to perform in front of huge crowds again. “I’m back and feeling good after my breakdown,” he said.
He promised he won’t leave it as long to return to the city, revealing he is ready to get back into the studio to record a new album.
