Lady Gaga postpones world tour due to chronic illness

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga revealed in recent social media posts that she has postponed the European leg of her “Joanne” world tour because she’s suffering from a chronic condition called fibromyalgia.

According to Mayo Clinic, fibromyalgia is a disorder “characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory issues.”

Because of this chronic condition, the 31-year-old pop star has been “suffering from severe physical pain that has impacted her ability to perform.”

While she has been receiving overwhelming support from her fans, Lady Gaga expressed disappointment in netizens who had suggested that she was making things up just so she could get away from touring.

“If you knew me, you would know that this couldn’t be further from the truth,” the singer-songwriter, who described herself a “fighter,” wrote on Instagram. “I’m a fighter. I use the word ‘suffer,’ not only because trauma and chronic pain have changed my life, but because they’re keeping me from living a normal life. They’re also keeping me from what I love the most in the world—performing for my fans.”

The cause of fibromyalgia remains unclear, and there’s no definitive cure. Still, Lady Gaga vowed to get to “the bottom of it.”

“As I get stronger and when I feel ready, I’ll tell my story. I plan to take this on strongly so I do not only raise awareness, but expand research for others who suffer as I do, so I can help make a difference,” she said. —ALLAN POLICARPIO