It was supposed to be a concert of rhythm and royalty. Fans filled the Solum Club in Paris, singing along to “Buga” and waiting for Afrobeats star Kizz Daniel to appear. Hours passed. The stage lights stayed on, but the star never came.
When it became obvious the singer was not going to be there, frustration curdled into fury. Netizens stormed social media to complain and blame the “Laye” crooner for disappointing them. Then, as the chaos spilled online, Kizz Daniel took to his Instagram Story to defend himself, insisting that this time, it wasn’t his fault.
“This wasn’t my fault”: Kizz Daniel explains
From his verified Instagram account, Kizz Daniel offered a point-by-point defence, blaming what he called a “beef between two promoters” for the Paris fiasco. His words read in part:
“First, this wasn’t my fault. Whatever clips y’all are seeing is a beef between the tour agent @olamidebaron and the show promoter.
I was paid to come perform in Paris by @olamidebaron in full. He sold the show to another promoter and, according to him, the promoter breached his contract by not paying him his balance. (I will be posting the notice of breach of contract).”
The singer went on to detail his recent tour schedule, painting a picture of fatigue, late nights, and logistical breakdowns beyond his control. He continued:
“As for the first two shows we did Italy and Sweden I got to the venue exactly at the time given to me to arrive.
Sometimes promoters want to wait till they have a full hall before performance.
I performed 4 a.m. in Parma (from getting ready since 8 p.m.), 1:30 a.m. in Sweden (from getting ready since 9 p.m.).
I couldn’t do a full set in Sweden because the venue was gonna shut down due to curfew.”
Then came the Paris breakdown itself. Kizz Daniel continued:
“We came into Paris late because of an unresolved issue between two promoters. I was paid and was ready to perform.
I never requested for a type of car. All lies. I’ve been going to shows in rented cabs since I got to Europe.
I came to the venue still because I wanted to perform unfortunately the venue closes by 11 p.m. according to the promoters. I tried my best to make this run a smooth one, but sometimes e get as e be.”
He added that he had been “ready since 6 a.m. for a 12:25 p.m. flight,” but was “delayed from flying by @olamidebaron so he could get his money.” The next available flight, according to him, departed at 5:25 p.m., far too late for the Paris show.
The echoes of 2022
The Paris episode is the latest in a string of performance controversies that have trailed Kizz Daniel across continents.
In August 2022, he was arrested briefly in Tanzania after failing to appear at a paid concert in Dar es Salaam. Promoters claimed he had been paid $60,000; Kizz Daniel said his luggage, including his signature gold chains had been misplaced, preventing him from performing. Days later, he apologised publicly and held a free makeup concert in the same city.
That same year, in Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S., the singer reportedly arrived four hours late for his show and performed for only about 20 minutes. Fans described the performance as rushed while some left before the set ended.
Together, these incidents have fuelled an uneasy question that now follows the artist’s global brand: Is Kizz Daniel unreliable on stage or simply unlucky on tour?
The disputed court story
In September 2025, a viral rumour claimed that a German court had ordered Kizz Daniel to pay about €200,000 in damages for skipping a show. His management quickly debunked it, calling the reports “fake and defamatory.”
Still, the narrative stuck, with another reminder that in the court of public opinion, perception can punish as harshly as any judge.
A pattern or a problem?
Behind every missed show lies a tangle of contracts, logistics, and egos. Artists rely on promoters for travel and local coordination; promoters rely on artists for punctuality and performance. When trust cracks, the fallout can be spectacular.
In his defence, Kizz Daniel insists he’s a victim of poor logistics, not arrogance. He denies diva behaviour, saying “I’ve been going to shows in rented cabs since I got to Europe,” and promised that upcoming show in Cologne would hold as scheduled.
The cost of the no-show
For fans, it’s heartbreak.
For promoters, it’s lost money and damaged credibility.
For the artist, it’s a reputation that grows more fragile with every empty stage.
Afrobeats has become a global export worth millions; professionalism now travels as part of the sound. Every tour, every delay, every public apology becomes a test of whether African superstars can sustain the trust of an increasingly global audience.
Kizz Daniel’s catalogue is rich — Buga, Cough (Odo), Twe Twe, Flex, Lie — records that define the Afrobeats era. But in live performance, the narrative is less about melody than management.
In the rhythm of his global rise, missed shows have become unwanted refrains. And until every ticket sold ends with a song sung, the shadow of the empty stage will keep returning, like a chorus nobody wants to hear again.
See screenshot of Kizz Daniel’s post below:
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