Sir Rod Stewart, 81, has upset some fans after flying to Boston to watch Scotland’s opening World Cup match against Haiti on Saturday night.
The “Maggie May” singer travelled from California on a private jet with his wife Penny Lancaster and two of his sons, Alastair and Liam, to attend the game.
The trip came just hours after he disappointed concertgoers by cancelling a show in Chula Vista on medical advice.
His team said he had been diagnosed with laryngitis linked to an acute respiratory infection.
“Rod Stewart very regretfully has had to cancel his show tonight in Chula Vista, California,” a statement said on Friday. It added that although he travelled to the venue and tried to perform, doctors advised him not to go on stage.
Sir Rod later shared his own message, saying he was “very disappointed” and apologised to fans, explaining that while he felt somewhat better after treatment, his voice had not recovered.
Despite the health setback, he was seen the following day posting a video from a private jet heading to Boston with his sons.
In the clip, he said they were off to watch Scotland in a World Cup match for the first time in 28 years, adding jokingly that he would “die a happy man” if Scotland progressed further. The group also sang the football chant “No Scotland, No Party”.
The video quickly sparked backlash online, with some social media users calling the situation “tone-deaf” and “disrespectful”, pointing to the cancelled concert just hours earlier.
Critics argued that fans who had travelled for the show were left disappointed, while seeing him travelling across the country so soon after raised questions.
Others shared more personal frustration, saying they had made significant efforts to attend the concert only for it to be called off at short notice.
However, some fans defended the singer, saying his illness appeared genuine and noting that he had still performed while unwell at recent shows.
They also argued that cancelling a concert does not mean he should not be able to travel with his family.
The trip appeared to end on a positive note, as Scotland opened their World Cup campaign with a 1–0 win over Haiti, with John McGinn scoring the decisive goal.
