Sarah Geronimo succumbs to pressure, breaks down in Las Vegas concert

Image: Instagram/@sarahgeronimoshots

Even the biggest stars get weary. Pop princess Sarah Geronimo came unhinged during her concert in Las Vegas, Nevada last April 29 after struggling to sing through her hit “Forever’s Not Enough”.

The video of a tearful and visibly exhausted Geronimo was uploaded on YouTube by the “I Stan Sarah Geronimo” account, showing the singer talking about her idol Michael Jackson, before breaking down in tears and, at some point, laughing, while she spoke about how hard it is to be “perfect.”

Eto na po pala yun. It hit me yung mga napapanood ko po sa videos ni MJ (Michael Jackson). Yang sigawan yang kantahan ng mga tao, yung minsan may naluluha pa gusto ka mahawakan lang. Grabe po I realized na hindi po pala ako handa dun,” Geronimo told the audience, her voice quivering.

(So this is it. It hit me, what I saw from the videos of MJ. These shouts, these singing of the audience, when sometimes there’s someone tearful and would just like to touch you. It’s too much, I realized I’m not ready for it.)

Ginusto ko pong maibahagi ang talento ko pero hindi ako handa pala dun sa mga kasama dun sa mga hiningi ko. Lalong lalo na po yang pressure na to always do good, maging role model ka, maging perpekto ka,” she said before finally breaking down in tears. “Mahirap po.”

(I want to share my talent but I am not prepared for the things that go along with the things I asked for. Most especially on the pressure to always do good, to be a role model, to be perfect. It’s hard.)

Geronimo had been working nonstop this year; apart from her 15th anniversary concert last April 14 in the Smart Araneta Coliseum, she’s also been working hard for her “This Is Me” global tour, beginning last April 21 in Los Angeles, California.

The United States tour has her set to perform in California, Nevada, Illinois and New York. She had also just finished filming “Miss Granny”, a Koream film remake which she is set to appear in with James Reid.

It is clear that Geronimo has been overworking herself, hence the meltdown she suffered in her Las Vegas concert.

“I’m sorry pagod po ako,” she told her audience. “I’m so sorry, I hope na kayanin ko pong i-survive ‘tong gabi na ‘to because you paid at gumastos ho kayo… I’m sorry,” she apologized, switching between tears and fraught laughter.

(I’m sorry, I’m tired. I’m so sorry. I hope to survive this night because you paid for it. I’m sorry.)

“And then I began asking myself bakit I feel empty. Hindi ‘yung successful na shows or ‘yung mga hits ang makakapagkumpleto sayo, ang makakapagpasaya sayo bilang isang tao kundi ‘yung tunay na pagmamahal na hindi nagbabago,” she continued on as she wiped her tears.

(And then I began asking myself why I feel empty. It’s not the successful shows nor the hits which would make you complete, which would make you happy as a human being. Instead, it’s true love that never changes.)

It was noted that some people in the audience can be heard laughing while she spoke.

Unti-unti po hinanap ko kung ano ba talaga ‘yung gagawin ko para I will feel fulfilled, hanap ako, hanap hanap until now pumapasok pa rin sa isip ko.”

(Little by little, I was looking for what to do to feel fulfilled. I kept searching, until now it still crosses my mind.)

“And then may nagsabi sa ‘kin, ‘Sarah ‘wag ka nang maghanap kasi ‘yan yung binigay na talento ng diyos para sa’yo so use it as a platform to honor his name, to glorify his name,’” she shared to her audience as they applauded for her.

(And then someone told me, “Sarah, don’t search anymore, because this is the talent that God gave you, so use it as a platform to honor his name.”)

Meanwhile, many fans came to Geronimo’s support, with some commenting in the video, saying that she really is tired and needs a break.

Sarah is melting down on stage and everyone was laughing. Sobrang pressured na from Divine, Delfin and Vic. 15 years nonstop working. Milyones na ang inakyat sa Viva and parents nya. (She has given millions to Viva and her parents.) She’s what? 28, 29 ? This girl needs a break,” wrote a certain Larry Sales.

Tao lang si Sarah,” added one Robert Macalindong. “Nakakaramdam ng pagod, di naman siya robot. Kakainis lang yung tawa ng tawa na sana nakikinig na lang siya.” (Sarah is only human. She feels tired. She’s not a robot. Those who were laughing were annoying, they should have just listened.)

Geronimo’s boyfriend, Matteo Guidicelli, also came to her support, taking to Instagram yesterday to offer words of comfort. He shared a picture of them at the beach, writing, “Keep walking. I’ll always be beside you. No matter what. I love you my love. And I miss you.”

It seems Geronimo is in dire need of rest and headspace. As of this writing, it is unknown from Geronimo’s management whether the pop princess will continue on with her remaining concerts in the United States or cut her tour early to recover. JB

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