Japanese music icon Ayumi Hamasaki found herself at the center of a social media storm after a planned Shanghai concert was abruptly canceled, leading to viral discussions about a purported “solo performance” for an empty arena. The controversy began when her scheduled “ayumi hamasaki ASIA TOUR 2025 ～I am ayu” show in Shanghai on November 29 was called off just one day prior by the organizers, citing “force majeure.” Despite the cancellation, Hamasaki posted images on social media that many interpreted as a moving performance for 14,000 empty seats.
However, subsequent Chinese media reports, notably from The Paper, revealed that the highly publicized “performance” for an audience of none was, in fact, footage captured during a rehearsal. This revelation was underscored by a public apology issued by a man identifying himself as Lai Zonglong, a staff member associated with the tour.
In his statement, Lai admitted to distributing misleading content online. He acknowledged that he had “surreptitiously photographed the artist on stage during rehearsal” and uploaded the images to his personal Douyin account around 6:00 PM on November 28. Lai confessed to publishing the false narrative that Hamasaki was “recording a one-person concert at the venue.”
Lai further detailed how this misinformation rapidly propagated across digital platforms, leading some self-media outlets to fabricate even more sensational claims, such as assertions that Hamasaki “sang the entire concert alone in an empty venue.” Expressing deep remorse over the incident, Lai offered a solemn public apology for his actions and the resulting confusion.
The drama extended to Hamasaki’s inner circle. Masato Matsuura, the president of her record label, publicly shared his distress on social media regarding the sudden cancellation and the surrounding events. Matsuura reflected on the experience, stating, “The night before the Shanghai performance, everything collapsed without a sound.” He revealed that a comment he had overheard—comparing the situation to a frightening “warning to others”—had deeply resonated with him. Matsuura concluded that the tumultuous events of the past few days felt like something out of a film.
This episode highlights the perils of information dissemination in the digital age, particularly when high-profile events are involved. The initial emotional reaction from fans—who found the idea of the star performing for an empty stage compelling—demonstrates the powerful narrative potential of celebrity actions, even when based on misinterpretations of private rehearsal footage.
The incident serves as a stark reminder for both event organizers and public figures about the necessity of maintaining clear communication channels and controlling the narrative around major international events to avoid the rapid spread of misinformation across social platforms. Moving forward, the focus will likely shift to the rescheduling and future execution of the remaining dates on Hamasaki’s Asia tour.
