Sum 41 posted to social media – and then deleted – a claim that an “an explosive device was detonated” outside the Paris club where the band was scheduled to perform on Saturday.
The Canadian rockers scrapped their No Personal Space Tour gig at Les Étoiles and shared a statement on social media.
“During load in for tonight’s performance in Paris, an explosive device was detonated just outside of the venue door. Band, crew, the fans in line are all safe, and there were no injuries. Due to the intimate nature of our Personal Space performances, we are unable to guarantee the safety of the fans in attendance.”
Authorities, though, have no record of an incident outside Les Étoiles.
Vincent Le Gall, manager of the venue, told franceinfo it was merely the sound of a firecracker used by protesters on the streets of Paris on Saturday afternoon. “We talked for three hours with [the band], but they did not want to do the concert,” he said.
Sum 41 deleted the original statement from its social media and replaced it was a shorter version. “Unfortunately, the Sum 41 show at Les Étoiles is cancelled tonight," it read. "All tickets will be refundable with your ticket sellers. Further details will be posted ASAP.”
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Fans were quick to call them out.
“Your first statement was not cool guys. France has been though (sic) enough pain, no need to add suspicion with such a blurry statement,” one replied on Twitter. “It would be fair if you published a new one saying that it was a firecracker and that you just got confused. Just saying..words are important.”
Another called the band members “cowards” and urged them to “never come back.” (Sum 41 is back in France for a pair of festival shows this July.)
On Friday night, Sum 41 performed a full concert – part of its Order In Decline World Tour – at the 9,000-capacity Zénith de La Villette arena.
In 2015, 90 fans were killed during a terrorist attack at the Eagles of Death Metal concert at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris.