The entertainment industry has rapidly responded to the CDC’s warning that Americans should brace for a coronavirus outbreak. Globally, there are over 90,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, identified as COVID-19, primarily in mainland China, where it originated. In the United States, the number has risen to at least 130 confirmed cases. In an effort to prevent spreading the virus, a number of concerts, festivals, film and TV shoots, and other events have been canceled, rescheduled, or modified. Coronavirus fears have affected major events like SXSW and BTS’s “Map of the Soul Tour.” If coronavirus thinks it can mess with the BTS Army, it has another thing coming. But in the meantime, here’s everything the virus has affected in the industry.
Concerts
Mariah Carey
Travel restrictions caused Mariah Carey to say “Aloha” (in this case, “good-bye”) to Hawaiian fans. The singer rescheduled for November, when Christmas is near and she’s at her most powerful anyway.
Khalid
The entire Asia leg of Khalid’s Free Spirit World Tour was ironically held back by travel advisories in several countries.
BTS
K-pop powerhouse BTS was unable to kick off their Map of the Soul Tour at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul due to the global outbreak. Ticket buyers for all three nights will receive refunds and BTS will head onto the second stop of the tour, in California.
Stormzy
Fans in Asia were unable to see Stormzy’s “Heavy Is the Head World Tour” due to coronavirus cancelations. “I was seriously looking forward to bringing the #HITH World tour to Asia and playing some epic sold out shows but due to the ongoing health and travel concerns surrounding the Coronavirus, I’m regrettably having to reschedule this leg of the Tour,” Stormzy tweeted.
Green Day
Green Day canceled several planned tour dates in countries affected by coronavirus: Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, Taipei, Hong Kong, Seoul, Osaka, and Tokyo. The band has not announced plans for the next leg of their tour, which takes them through parts of Europe dealing with the outbreak.
Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne was “bummed” about having to postpone the Asian leg of her Head Above Water World Tour, missing concerts in the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, and several cities in China.
Festivals and Conferences
SXSW Participants
While the Austin-based music, tech, and film festival plans to operate as usual, several big-name companies have decided to pull their contributions. Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Intel, China Gathering, and Mashable won’t be eating breakfast tacos with the rest of SXSW this year.
Facebook F8 Developers Conference
Much to the disdain of tech bros everywhere, Facebook decided to cancel its annual F8 developers conference in San Jose, California, scheduled for May 5-6. Facebook had previously canceled its March global marketing summit in San Francisco, also due to coronavirus concerns.
Seattle’s Emerald City Comic Con
Washington State has already seen nine coronavirus-related deaths, prompting several attendees — from DC Comics to individual creators — to cancel on the event. Emerald City Comic Con had previously issued a statement saying the convention would continue as planned, but prioritizing “sanitization.”
Arnold Sports Festival
The Arnold Schwarzenegger–named sports competition will continue as planned on March 5, only without an audience. Spectators won’t be able to watch the preliminary events, but for the finals? They’ll be back.
Game Developers Conference
Several brands like Microsoft and Electronic Arts had already backed out of this year’s GDC by the time organizers canceled the event. Plans for a redo this summer will be announced in the coming weeks.
The London Book Fair
One of the world’s largest international book festivals was forced to cancel amid coronavirus worries. About 25,000 publishers, agents, and authors were meant to attend the fair March 10-12, even as many backed out.
Launches and Premieres
Disney+ European Press Launch
Disney+ axed its two-day European press launch in London this week, as a number of media attendees canceled. Instead, they’ll promote the streaming service online.
Superman: Red Son New York Premiere
Warner Bros. decided to cancel the New York premiere of its animated feature Superman: Red Son “due to coronavirus concerns.”
No Time to Die
The latest James Bond film initially canceled its press tour and premiere in China, then decided it wasn’t time to die anywhere in the world. No Time to Die’s release has been postponed to November 2020 everywhere.
Film and TV Shoots
The Bachelorette
The Bachelorette producers have to get creative for this season’s vacation spot. Variety reports that initial plans to go to Italy had to be swapped due to the country’s growing outbreak.
The Amazing Race
Season 33 of the reality-adventure show was temporarily postponed just three episodes into production in England and Scotland. No Racers or crew members contracted the virus or showed symptoms and everyone is returning home for the time being.
Mission: Impossible 7
Paramount Pictures halted production on Mission: Impossible 7, which was headed to shoot in Venice. Italy is the third worst-affected country in the world, after China and Korea.
