Mendes said on Wednesday that he has postponed the rest of his world tour so he could focus on his mental health.
Mendes first postponed his North American tour for three weeks due to scheduling conflicts. The band has now canceled 70 shows scheduled through August 2023 at arenas across the globe.
“The last few weeks of gigs have been postponed because I was not fully prepared for the physical and emotional toll that returning to the road would have on me. I was eager to get back on stage after a long hiatus due to the epidemic, but I had no idea how difficult touring would be after such a long absence from the stage.”
“Grounding” oneself and “coming back stronger” were the goals of his team and health professionals, he stated in his blog post. The pandemic forced a lot of singers to postpone or cancel their tours, including Shawn Mendes, who said he had “reached a breaking point.”
From the time I was 15, I’ve been on the road, and I have to admit that being away from my friends and family has always been difficult,” he stated on July 8 in an Instagram post.
In his music and in interviews, Mendes has spoken openly about his anxiousness, which he has referred to in songs like “In My Blood.” Mendes admitted in 2020 that the pandemic has made him more anxious.
“After working through the anxiety brought on by the silence [of the pandemic], I had a contemplative phase where I could say, ‘Oh, this is what I’ve been doing.’ The whole thing smacks of insanity,’ “Then, he added. “Here’s what I’m capable of. This is a work of art. This is a much more important issue than I could ever comprehend.”
When Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, his longtime girlfriend of three years, announced their split earlier this year, Mendes revealed that he doesn’t know who to contact when he’s having a panic attack. Cabella revealed that she and her ex-husband went to therapy together before they split up to deal with the stress of their failing relationship.
A recent Instagram post by Shawn Mendes revealed that the singer is still looking forward to recording new music and performing live in the future.
His message to fans read, “I know you’ve all been waiting so long to watch these shows, and it kills my heart to tell you this,” was accompanied by the following: “I cherish each and every one of you, and I want to express my gratitude for your unwavering commitment to my cause.”