Brandy Apologizes for Chicago Tour Exit, Cites Dehydration; Monica Finishes Show

CHICAGO – R&B star Brandy has issued an apology to fans after she abruptly left the stage during a Chicago stop of her joint “The Boy Is Mine Tour” with fellow singer Monica over the weekend.

The sudden departure left Monica to finish the concert solo and sparked confusion and disappointment among attendees, particularly since the duo never performed their iconic 1998 duet, “The Boy Is Mine.” Video footage showed Brandy leaving the stage, telling the audience, “Give me one second y’all, I gotta get my…”

On Sunday, Brandy posted a statement to clarify the situation and thank fans for their “overwhelming love, support, and — most importantly — your prayers.” She attributed her exit to a health emergency: “I sincerely apologize for the abrupt end to last night’s performance in Chicago. After weeks of nonstop rehearsals, last night I experienced dehydration and feelings of wanting to faint.”

Brandy explained that after consulting with her team, they agreed that prioritizing her well-being was necessary. She attempted to return but struggled to perform due to the show’s technical demands. “With having to make some adjustments and the show being very technical, unfortunately, it was impossible to fully connect sonically with the production,” the statement read.

Brandy confirmed she immediately went from the arena to see a doctor and offered appreciation for her co-headliner, adding, “I still made the decision to try and return and give it my all despite not feeling OK. With having to make some adjustments and the show being very technical, unfortunately, it was impossible to fully connect sonically with the production.”

The tour has been highly anticipated, partly due to years of rumored tension between the two R&B singers.

Speaking to Essence before the tour, Brandy emphasized that their reunion transcended their famous track about romantic rivalry, calling the song’s connection with the world a “blessing” and noting that the tour was much bigger than the hit itself.