Welsh rockers the Stereophonics played two nights at Motorpoint Arena in United Kingdom on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15, even as the Covid-19 outbreak continued to spread the virus across Europe and ravage communities.
The decision to continue with the gigs as planned has been met with forehead-slapping responses from China, where the virus has taken its toll, to domestic feedback that has turned to labelling the band as irresponsible for packing the venue in Cardiff with thousands of fans, despite calls to cancel their performances.
Following the concerts over the weekend, the band shared photos and videos onto Facebook and Twitter.
https://twitter.com/stereophonics/status/1238976755022680065
Cardiff is rockin’! #stereophonics #Kind2020Tour pic.twitter.com/vndm4MeD71
— stereophonics (@stereophonics) March 14, 2020
Criticised for not cancelling concert
They then faced a barrage of negativity, with some calling the group “irresponsible” for allowing the shows to take place.
A clip of the concert-goers singing along then made its way to Chinese social media Weibo, where commenters were stunned, confused, and angered by the antics.
They variously said:
“They are all very brave.”
“I have no words, I wish them well.”
“Wow! Though we shouldn’t be wishing ill for others, this is really unbelievable.”
“These people have water for brains.”
“The UK is going to catch up to Italy in no time.”
“Don’t ask for China’s help when things start to get bad. You got yourself into this mess.”
Reactions to concert
And the Darwin award 2020 goes to....stereophonics!! https://t.co/20z2SltCZJ
— Andreas Tsouloupas (@ATSOULOUPAS) March 16, 2020
Imagine literally risking your life to see the Stereophonics https://t.co/g3D1jafEn0
— Alex Dymoke (@AlexDymoke) March 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/bristolpaul/status/1239500668420972546
Brb risking my elderly relatives lives for the Stereophonics https://t.co/CH3zmYqwzM
— Stroszek (@johnnydork) March 16, 2020
Other responses domestically were also negative:
“Extremely irresponsible to go ahead with the gigs under the current circumstances. Seeing this crowd gives me the shivers about the increase in COVID-19 cases we will have due to this huge congregation. It’s down to the people that attend, too, but mostly you for not cancelling.”
“I didn’t go. Not because I could have caught it, but because I could have brought it back and infected my kids, my family, my co-workers and anybody else I came into contact with.
“My own personal enjoyment doesn’t outrank even potentially spreading this.”
While major sporting events have been cancelled over the course of the last week, the UK government’s chief scientific advisor has said that now is not the right time to pull the plug on large-scale events.
However, that could change in the future depending on expert advice.
The number of virus cases in the UK has risen to 1,543.
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