UPDATED with Tribeca statement. Tribeca festival co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal expressed support for Billy Joel on Friday after his disclosure of a health condition that has forced the cancellation of upcoming tour dates.
The message is related to the fact that the festival will open June 4 with the world premiere of HBO documentary Billy Joel: So It Goes. Joel shared a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), stemming from an onstage fall during a concert last February. He plans to hold off on touring and public appearances while going through physical therapy.
“Our hearts are with Billy Joel and his family following today’s announcement,” Rosenthal and De Niro said in a statement. “As a New York icon and global music legend, he has profoundly shaped the cultural fabric of this city and touched audiences around the world. We send our love and full support and wish him strength and a healthy recovery.
“We’re deeply honored that this year’s Opening Night celebrates his remarkable legacy and enduring influence on New York’s cultural landscape. This is the perfect moment to recognize a creative force whose work reflects the very soul of our city – and the heart of Tribeca.”
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Billy Joel has canceled all his upcoming tour dates amid health concerns and being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
The performer shared on social media that his health “condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance.”
“Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period,” read the press release shared on Instagram. “Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.”
The release continued, “He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.”
The post also included a statement from Billy Joel, who said, “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.”
Billy Joel fans would automatically receive a refund to their original payment form.
The tour cancellation comes after the musician fell during a concert in Connecticut in February. In March of this year, Billy Joel postponed his tour dates for an undisclosed “medical condition.” The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer posted on Instagram that he would “undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors.”
In February 2024, the multiplatinum singer and pianist released his first new single since 2007, titled “Turn the Lights Back On,” and a month later he played his 100th concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden — a venue he has sold out more than any other act. CBS in April aired a commemorative special, 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden -The Greatest Arena Run of All Time. The network re-aired the special a week later after its signal cut out in many part of the U.S. during his signature hit “Piano Man.”
The post Tribeca Festival Co-Founders Robert De Niro And Jane Rosenthal Express “Love And Full Support” For Ailing Billy Joel; “Deeply Honored” To Open Fest With Documentary About Him – Update appeared first on Deadline.
