Indian playback singer Neha Kakkar is facing controversy after Australian event organisers accused her of refusing to perform at a Melbourne concert attended by 700 people, resulting in a three-hour delay. The incident occurred during her recent Australia tour, where she had two back-to-back shows – one in Sydney, which reportedly went smoothly with 1,500 to 2,000 attendees, and the contentious Melbourne event that drew a smaller crowd.
Organisers’ version of events
Australian event organisers Pace D and Bikram Singh Randhawa, who were involved with the Melbourne show, allege that Kakkar declined to take the stage upon seeing the modest audience size, insisting she would not perform unless the venue was filled. They claim this refusal led to a significant delay, with the singer eventually appearing on stage three hours after the scheduled start time. Many fans, who had paid up to 300 AUD for tickets, expressed their frustration and disappointment, reportedly booing Kakkar when she finally performed for less than an hour.
Dispute over payment and arrangements
Kakkar publicly stated that she was not paid for the Melbourne concert and that her team was denied basic necessities such as accommodation, food, and water. However, the organisers have strongly denied these allegations, asserting that she was paid in full before arriving in Australia, which they say is standard practice for such events. They also maintain that hotel and travel arrangements were made for Kakkar and her team, and that all technical requirements for the show were met, pointing out that opening acts performed without issue.
Organisers further contend that they, not Kakkar, suffered financially due to the low turnout, claiming a loss of approximately 500,000 AUD. They have described Kakkar’s public statements as misleading and have challenged her version of events, stating that all necessary arrangements were in place.
Kakkar’s response
In response to the backlash, Kakkar posted a video on social media in which she broke down and apologised to fans for the delay. She reiterated her claims about the organisers’ mismanagement and lack of payment, expressing that she and her team performed despite difficult circumstances out of respect for her fans.
The dispute has sparked widespread debate online, with both parties standing by their respective accounts of the Melbourne concert fiasco.
