Patti Smith Says She's 'Absolutely Fine' After Collapsing Onstage in Brazil amid 'Post-Migraine Dizziness'
The rocker returned to the stage in a wheelchair, and later told fans the incident "does not merit so much attention"
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Patti Smith preforms onstage during The Gordon Parks Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner And Auction Celebrating The Arts & Social Justice at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 21, 2024 in New York City.Patti Smith is assuring fans that she is “absolutely fine” after a “small incident” onstage while performing in Brazil.
The rocker, 78, seemingly collapsed onstage in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, Jan. 29 while performing with the Soundwalk Collective group, and was helped offstage before returning briefly in a wheelchair.
In a statement shared to Instagram the next day, Smith said she’d been dealing with the effects of a migraine, and that various accounts of what happened had been “grossly exaggerated.”
“This is [me] letting everyone know that I am fine,” she wrote alongside a selfie that featured her smiling for and waving to the camera. “I had some post migraine dizziness. Had a small incident, left the stage, and returned 10 minutes later and talked to the people, told them I was fine and sang them Wing and Because the Night.”
Smith said she’d been checked out by an “excellent doctor” and was doing well.
“Please do not accept any other story. With all the strife in the world, this explainable incident does not merit so much attention,” she wrote. “Thank you everyone for your concern. Trust me I am fine.”
The “Because the Night” singer fell about 30 minutes into her performance, and remained there for several minutes before she received assistance, the Associated Press reported, citing local media. Journalist Micheline Alves told the AP that Smith seemingly tried to support herself by holding her microphone or music stand, but “everything fell on top of her.” She remained conscious, and was able to stand on her own, Alves said.
Video shared to social media shows the Just Kids author returning to stage in a wheelchair and apologizing to the crowd.
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Patti Smith performs on stage during Noches del Botanico music festival on June 20, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.“You’ve been so patient and unfortunately I got sick and the doctor said I can’t finish so we will have to figure something,” she said. “I feel very badly.”
Another video shows Smith performing “Because the Night” a cappella, with the audience singing along.
The Berlin-based Soundwalk Collective is collaborating with Smith on the “Correspondences” project, during which she recites her writings alongside musicians. According to Instagram, the project is set to run from Jan. 16 to Feb. 22.
In an Instagram Stories post, Soundwalk Collective said Smith had been suffering from an “intense migraine” for “the past couple days, and had some dizziness on stage, but she still wanted to be there for all of us and you and perform today.”
“She is now being cared for by the best doctors in the most loving way and will be back on stage tomorrow night,” the statement continued. “Patti says that she is tremendously grateful for your patience and forgiveness and she sends her love to all who attended.”
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