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Justin Bieber Cancels North American Tour Due to Rare Syndrome

justin bieber performing
Justin Bieber during a concert in the Allstatae Arena in Rosemont, Illinois (2015). Photo by Lou Stejskal

Last updated on July 2nd, 2022 at 04:04 pm

On Friday, June 10th, Justin Bieber took to Instagram to announce to his fans that he is canceling the rest of the North American portion of his Justice Tour which was supposed to conclude in July. This includes his performances in New York, Philadelphia, Uncasville, Boston, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Glendale, and Los Angeles.

Bieber does not take canceling such a huge portion of his tour lightly, but he has no choice as he has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which has left half of his face paralyzed. Because he cannot move one half of his mouth, this makes singing and performing impossible.

Here is the announcement from Bieber himself:

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber)

Bieber apologizes to fans but says he must take this time to rest. He hopes to pick up his tour again on July 31st with his first international performance in Lucca, Italy. This doesn’t leave fans any less heartbroken, however, as many of the Justice Tour dates are already rescheduled dates due to the COVID19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

What Happens with Cancelled Justin Bieber Tickets?

As of the writing of this article, there is no mention of if the dates are rescheduled, or what fans can expect if they hold a canceled ticket. If you hold a ticket to a Bieber show in one of the aforementioned cities (or in Washington DC or Toronto where shows were canceled earlier this week) watch out for an email regarding your tickets.

You may also consider contacting customer service, but they are likely flooded with calls and emails at the moment due to the large-scale cancellation.

What is Ramsay Hunt Syndrome?

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a condition caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Usually, it starts as a shingles outbreak somewhere near the ear. Shingles is a painful skin condition that occurs in people who once had chicken pox.

When you contract chicken pox, even after you heal the virus continues to live on in your nerves. And for about one-third of people, this virus comes back years later in the form of shingles. These shingles can then cause further complications, namely Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.

In the case of those with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, the shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve that runs by the ear. This facial nerve connects to the entire half of the face, so once it is affected, the individual experiences facial paralysis on that side.

ramsay hunt syndrome
First shingles affects a nerve in the ear, then facial paralysis follows. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

If treated quickly, those who contract this rare syndrome can make a full recovery. There are occasionally permanent damages caused by the syndrome, however, and they include deafness, eye damage, and permanent weakness in the facial muscles.

Is there a Cure for Ramsay Hunt Syndrome?

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is typically treated with antiviral drugs and corticosteroids. Occasionally, a patient may also be prescribed pain relievers depending on how bad their pain is.

There is no way to get rid of the virus that causes the syndrome and it will continue to live on in the body. But usually, once the person recovers from Ramsay Hunt Syndrome the first time, they will not experience it again. In a rare 1% of cases, the shingles virus does reappear later in life.

How People get Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

There is no way to avoid getting Ramsay Hunt Syndrome if you have already had chickenpox, as the virus is already inside your body. Doctors aren’t quite sure why some people who have had chicken pox get shingles and others don’t.

Currently, they believe that shingles tend to appear in people’s lives when they are undergoing a period of stress or are experiencing immunosuppression, as this allows the virus to become active once again in the body.

Justin Bieber is receiving some of the best medical care available and it is believed that he will make a full recovery.

Written by Hope Davis

Long-time music lover Hope became a full-time writer in 2020 after being laid off from her regular job due to COVID-19. She now spends her time traveling the world to see her favorite bands while writing about them!

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