Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi announced Tuesday he is taking a break from touring amid his ongoing struggle with Tourette’s syndrome. The announcement came after a clip of his appearance on Saturday at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK went viral.
Choosing to take a break was “the hardest decision of my life,” Capaldi said in a statement.
Capaldi, 26, began thanking the Glastonbury crowd “for singing when I needed it,” when he appeared to be in the middle of an attack of a nervous tic that left him unable to finish his hit single, “Someone You Loved.” The video of this performance went viral and generated an outpouring of support for the singer.
“I am so sorry to let you know that I will be taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future,” he said.
“I used to be able to enjoy every second of shows like this,” he added, “but the truth is, I was still learning to adapt to my Tourette influence, and on Saturday it became apparent that I needed to spend more time in order with my mental and physical health.”
Capaldi said he was “very sorry” for the fans who planned to attend the shows before the end of the year.
Earlier this month, Capaldi announced that he would be canceling three weeks of shows leading up to the festival, apologizing to fans for the financial impact of the cancellation.
“I need to take these three weeks to be Lewis from Glasgow for a while,” the singer said, explaining that the past few months have taken a toll on him both mentally and physically.
before canceling, Capaldi was scheduled to play shows all over the world July through September, with most concert dates sold out.
Future teen idol. Typical social media ninja. Alcohol buff. Explorer. Creator. Beer advocate.”