Yesterday, we reported on the alleged, backstage drama leading up to last week’s sudden cancelation of Adele’s hotly-anticipated Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace. As disappointed fans continue to question what to do with those plane tickets they’ve already booked to see the show, new details about the last-minute cancellation are emerging.
One source previously told The Daily Mail that the singer had engaged in a protracted fight with set designer Esmeralda Devlin, who had previously designed her 2016 tour.
According to another insider who spoke with The Sun, Adele was furious about a swimming pool stunt intended for the show and refused to take part in it.
“When she saw the finished design, she refused to take part. Adele described the pool as a ‘baggy old pond’ and refused, point blank, to stand in the middle of it,” the source said.
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“The intention was to fill it with water on the set as she was lifted up on a crane-type mechanism, creating the illusion she was floating on water.”
In a tearful video to fans, Adele cited the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as a reason the show wasn’t ready, but many have observed that Caesars Palace made no note of Covid in it’s cancelation announcement.
“It’s been impossible to finish the show. I can’t give you what I have right now,” she said.
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The swimming pool story also fits with The Daily Mail’s reporting about ongoing clashes between the singer and set designer.
“In spite of the set costing millions to put together, Adele was unhappy with the result, and she made her feelings very clear to Es,” a source told the outlet. “She was already nervous and the falling-out sent her spiraling into a panic because she was desperate that everything should be perfect.”
“There was no real clarity around what Adele wanted for the show because of the endless changes being made to the production,” a second source added. “It seemed that while she has always preferred a stripped-back performance, she was under some pressure to come up with a huge extravaganza. “
They continued, “So there was a constant ricochet between those two versions of what the show should be, and it did cause some quite explosive arguments. Most shows have teething problems of one kind or another, but there has been a feeling for some time that these shows were heading for disaster.”
Additionally, Las Vegas journalist Scott Roeben claims Adele refused to use the technical equipment at the venue and insisted on installing her own.
“Apparently, Adele and her team refused to use the house equipment in The Colosseum,” said Roeben.
“The theater has a massive video screen, very high tech, but Adele’s team insisted upon an entirely new system – a larger screen, essentially built a few inches in front of the existing screen.
“Such demands not only drive up production costs but, at a time when supplies are disrupted, it’s a recipe for disaster – in this case last-minute delays or cancellations.
“I also hear from a source that Caesars had to replace the cutting edge Meyer sound system and replace it with a different system for her.”
Immediately following the cancellation, Adele reportedly hopped on a Caesars plane and headed to Van Nuys Airport in the San Fernando Valley. A car was waiting for her and took her to the Beverly Hills home of her new boyfriend, sports agent Rich Paul.
One Twitter commenter won the day with a solid Spinal Tap reference:
Adele cancels her shows in Las Vegas due to the swimming pool stage set being too small.
This brings back memories… pic.twitter.com/ySqnZ4iOOQ— SuzieWong ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? (@SuzieWo20886208) January 25, 2022
Invader7
Too many last minute changes and the conflict between her & the teams visions killed the shows… Too many last minute technical issues could NOT be resolved.. She should have gone with the in house audio /video systems.. But NOOOOOOO… Miss Thang screwed the pooch !!! And PISSED off a LOT of people… Prima Donna BITCH !!! She gets paid cancellation fees regardless.. And the fans lost millions on tickets /hotels/ airfare/etc….
JTex
You read a few articles and feel empowered to call someone a Prima Donna BITCH!!!, in all caps with extra exclamation points?
Someone give us the article of your life and decisions.
Charlie in Charge
I dunno, a lot of people stand to make a lot of money off of her so maybe don’t build a swimming pool effect that she doesn’t want to use. I cannot imagine the stress she would be under to perform and it’s her name on the line if it doesn’t go well. Give her what she needs. Maybe the new screens were a little bananas?
Yooper
There seems to be a lot of the typical “sources” sighted without much real information or known facts.
Fahd
My neighbor’s comment was “Aretha did it better anyway”. But that’s one song. It really is too bad they couldn’t find a way to go on with the show; No doubt lots of fans would have been okay with something short of perfection in the presentation, rather than being stuck with non-refundable travel reservations.
JTinToronto
Prima Donna? Nervous breakdown? Scared to death? Good actress?
Ginger Tom
Dunno but she will probably use the material from this hoo-ha/fiasco to write another album.
nystrele
While I don’t know enough of the REAL story to rant either way, I do find it a bit madcap that the cutting edge sound and visual systems utilized by Celine, Elton, Toni Braxton and so many other A-listers at Casear’s were not to the liking of Adele… don’tcha think?
Mischief13
To quote an old Broadway adage, the audience never goes out humming the scenery.
The big sky
Your Choice of “News” sources from the UK needs a bit more thought. The Daily Mail is a vile right wing rag and The Sun is a Murdoch platform of bigoted piffle. I don’t know what has gone wrong with Adeles shows but nothing these “papers” say is worth repeating.
Starflare5
Now, I actually can understand the sound system being an audiophile myself, however, the set design….. Why did she even go with that particular designer if they refused to listen to her? It would have been easier just to fire her and go with someone else instead of fighting.
TomG
It seems to me that people are there to hear her sing. The show itself is secondary, so skip that altogether and save everyone a lot of grief and just give her a mic and nothing else and have her sing. Yes it will be a bit more boring but there won’t be all that drama.
JustMuscles1
Listen, its her show she should present it the way shes most comfortable with! My personal experience in larger than life shows, much less cabaret shows, have technical mishaps that can be dangerous and deadly even. Good for her for standing her ground. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!
dannysax
Just like all the other “divas” in show business, she is a prissy little bitch. If she wanted to do her own stuff, she should have just not paid the set designer to do it for her. She got what she deserved by having it canceled!