Pink Taking Time Off While Sick Will Resonate With Anyone Who’s Been Judged for Their Illness
When you have to cancel plans or call off work due to illness, and then later are able to go out and have a little bit of fun, does that mean you were “faking” when you said you were sick earlier? Anyone with a chronic illness knows the answer is no — and that judgment for not “acting sick” (whatever that means) is sadly common. After taking time off for her own health, the singer Pink experienced judgment herself and hit back at people shaming her with a response that might resonate with you if you live with chronic health conditions.
Pink is currently on a world tour along with her two kids. She announced on Twitter Wednesday that she had to postpone her show in Sydney on Friday to help her “kick this sick” she’s been battling (she didn’t say what her specific diagnosis is).
Hi my Sydney friends. It is with great frustration that I bring you this news:( Friday’s show will be postponed. I was hoping a couple of days of rest would help me kick this sick, but not at the speed I was hoping for. I appreciate your well wishes and understanding + I’m sorry.
— P!nk (@Pink) August 2, 2018
Sydney friends: does anyone have a favorite place that makes wellness shots and fresh juices for when I get there? Thanks in advance. And how do we feel about Neti- pots. They scare me.
— P!nk (@Pink) August 2, 2018
Soon after, The Daily Telegraph published photos of her and her kids at the beach with the headline, “Pink’s Sydney concert canceled as she chills in Byron Bay,” implying she wasn’t really sick.
So on Thursday, Pink posted the photo and headline on Instagram with a caption explaining that her break in Byron has been scheduled since 2017 and that she was able to “push through” her illness when her Australian tour first began. But the paparazzi photos don’t tell the whole story of her latest bout with illness.
“What these parasite paparazzi don’t show you, is two doctor visits in Byron on two consecutive days, antibiotics, steroids, Vick’s, nose spray, throat spray, more steroids, NyQuil, a screaming baby in the middle of the night, every night, while mama gives him warm baths and tells her daughter everything is fine,” she wrote.
She said she has never “phoned in” a tour or canceled on people who spend money to see her perform and that she has an “impeccable” record for not canceling.
“I’m doing the absolute best I can, and you can believe it or not,” she wrote. “What they don’t show you in this picture is me drinking water and lying down while my friends try to entertain my 7-year-old who is asking me why these creepy men are surrounding us and pacing back and forth and taking pictures of her every move.”
See the entire post below:
I don’t need to clear this up, but out of respect for my fans I will attempt it. I scheduled this tour meticulously, trying to do what was best for my children, while also putting on the best and most physically demanding and beautiful show of my life. This break in Byron has been scheduled since 2017, as a way to get outside the hotel and the winter and have some time with my children. I’ve already been sick twice (kids as well)on this Australian tour, but the first time we got sick, I was able to push through. This time, what these parasite paparazzi don’t show you, is two doctor visits in Byron on two consecutive days, antibiotics, steroids, Vick’s, nose spray, throat spray, more steroids, NyQuil, a screaming baby in the middle of the night, every night, while mama gives him warm baths and tells her daughter everything is fine. You can think whatever you want, it’s your right, but I have never taken advantage of any one in my entire life. I have never fucked off while disrespecting hard working people who spend money to come see me play. I have never phoned in a single tour, I have an impeccable record for not cancelling. I mother with everything I have whilst handling all the rest. The snark in this is unbelievable and makes me long for a nicer world. I’m doing the absolute best I can, and you can believe it or not. What they don’t show you in this picture is me drinking water and lying down while my friends try to entertain my 7 year old who is asking me why these creepy men are surrounding us and pacing back and forth and taking pictures of her every move. I will see everyone tomorrow whether I’m better or not, and the postponed show will be rescheduled. As I said, I’m sorry to the real fans who this situation has affected. Onwards and upwards.
Though it’s unclear whether or not Pink is dealing with a chronic condition or is sick with the flu or other temporary illness, the judgment she faced sounds familiar to what Lady Gaga experienced when she was criticized for canceling shows due to her fibromyalgia. Like Pink, she also responded on social media and explained that she wasn’t “making it up” to get out of touring.
“I use the word ‘suffer’ not for pity, or attention, and have been disappointed to see people online suggest that I’m being dramatic, making this up, or playing the victim to get out of touring. If you knew me, you would know this couldn’t be further from the truth,” Gaga wrote.
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Andemaya
Erin is the former senior editor and chronic illness editor of The Mighty. She joined The Mighty in 2015 and previously worked at Inside Weddings magazine, Mic, and The Huffington Post. She was also the features editor at The California Aggie, UC Davis' student newspaper. She is honored to be a part of the Mighty community!
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