Solange Cancels NYE Afropunk Performance Due to Autonomic Disorder

Knowing how or when to tell people in your life about serious health issues can be tricky. Some may choose to keep their battles with illness private, only sharing sensitive information with a few trusted friends or family members. But, when you’re a celebrity with millions of fans and followers around the world, maintaining your privacy is a lot more difficult.

Singer and songwriter Solange Knowles revealed Wednesday on Instagram that she has been battling an autonomic disorder for the past five months, and has to cancel her upcoming New Year’s Eve performance at Afropunk Johannesburg.

“Still not sure what exactly or how much I want to share…” she wrote. “The past five months I have been quietly treating, and working through an Autonomic Disorder. It been a journey that hasn’t been easy on me… ”

Wrote, deleted and re wrote this like 5 times… Still not sure what exactly or how much I want to share… However it’s so important to me for the people in South Africa, a place that has tremendous meaning to me and that has given me SO SO MUCH, to know why I won’t be performing at Afro Punk this NYE. The past five months I have been quietly treating, and working through an Autonomic Disorder. It been a journey that hasn’t been easy on me… Sometimes I feel cool, and other times not so cool at all. It’s a complicated diagnoses , and I’m still learning so much myself, but right now, my doctors are not clearing me for such an extended lengthy flight, and doing a rigorous show right after. I can’t put into words how saddened and sorry I am that I am unable to perform for you guys this NYE, there is simply no other place I wanted to be than there with my family to bring in 2018 with you…….but I give you my ABSOLUTE WORD I will come back with AfroPunk and deliver this performance…..as it is so extremely important to me to connect with the people who have so closely inspired me in so many ways. I can’t thank Afro Punk enough for their support, and to all of the other festivals this past summer/fall who have known about my health, kept it confidential, and gone out of their way to make me feel supported while doing these shows. As a part of the self care that I’ve tried to encourage this past year, it needs to start with myself, and I’m looking forward to doing a better job of this 2018. This past year has been one of the most fulfilling of my life… Performing this record and experiencing the energy exchange with you guys has been astounding, and I’m so excited about continuing to do the work I feel so absolutely humbled and appreciative to be doing next year. It gives me life.

A post shared by Solange (@saintrecords) on Dec 27, 2017 at 8:33am PST

Knowles went on to thank everyone who helped keep her health issues private until she was ready to share the news with fans. “I can’t thank Afro Punk enough for their support, and to all of the other festivals this past summer/fall who have known about my health, kept it confidential, and gone out of their way to make me feel supported while doing these shows.” The singer also had to cancel her concert at Florida State University last month due to medical reasons.

Knowles did not specify what type of autonomic dysfunction she has. However, those with autonomic dysfunction tend to experience symptoms such as fainting, dizziness, fatigue and difficulty regulating temperature and heart rate.

“It’s a complicated diagnoses, and I’m still learning so much myself, but right now, my doctors are not clearing me for such an extended lengthy flight, and doing a rigorous show right after,” the “Cranes in the Sky” singer wrote, adding:

I can’t put into words how saddened and sorry I am that I am unable to perform for you guys this NYE. There is simply no other place I wanted to be than there with my family to bring in 2018 with you.

Although she won’t be able to perform as scheduled, Knowles said she plans to make self-care a priority so she can continue to perform as well as manage her health. “As a part of the self care that I’ve tried to encourage this past year, it needs to start with myself, and I’m looking forward to doing a better job of this 2018,” she wrote.

Knowles also promised to return in 2018 and reconnect with fans. “Performing this record and experiencing the energy exchange with you guys has been astounding, and I’m so excited about continuing to do the work I feel so absolutely humbled and appreciative to be doing next year. It gives me life.”

The Mighty reached out to Solange Knowles and has yet to hear back.