James Arthur pulls out of charity gig due to 'crippling anxiety'

James Arthur was forced to pull out of a charity gig at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 28 March due to “crippling anxiety.”

The 31-year-old singer was set to perform at the prestigious venue on behalf of Teenage Cancer Trust but just a few hours before he was supposed to be on stage, took to social media to explain why he was unable to do so.

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On Twitter, he candidly wrote: “I’m deeply sorry to announce that I’m going to have to pull out of [my] performance tonight. I have been feeling crippled by anxiety and poor mental health over the past few days and it’s badly affecting me. I simply cannot perform tonight.”

He went on to say that he was devastated and deeply sorry to those who bought ticket and “the boys” Take That, who he was set to share the evening with.

“It was a dream to be able to perform alongside them but devastatingly I cannot perform this evening, he continued. “I would like to profoundly apologise to the amazing Teenage Cancer Trust team. I promise I will make it up to you and I’m looking to get help for this.”

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This isn’t the first time Arthur – who won The X Factor back in 2012 – has spoken out about mental health. During an appearance on morning chat show Lorraine, he opened up about the importance of sharing – and subsequently, normalising – your own struggles if you have a public platform.

“I think people in the spotlight have a huge responsibility to talk about these things,” he noted.