Wyatt Flores, the rising country star who touched millions of fans with his song “Please Don’t Go”, has announced that he is canceling some of his upcoming shows due to his mental health issues. The 22-year-old singer-songwriter shared a heartfelt message on Instagram on Monday, February 19, 2024, where he revealed that he has been feeling numb and empty for months and that he needs to take care of himself.
Flores posted a video of his recent show in Kansas City, Missouri, where he broke down in tears on stage and confessed to the audience that he was not feeling anything. He apologized for not being able to give them what they deserved and thanked them for their support. He also wrote a long caption explaining his situation and his decision to cancel his show in Oxford, Ohio, and reschedule his shows in Detroit and Toronto.
“It’s been almost exactly a year since ‘Please Don’t Go’ went viral. I know most people don’t understand what goes on in my mind up on that stage. Because you all have made my dreams come true, I’ve given everything I have to keep touring, writing, and recording. Since November, I’ve been struggling with the feeling of feeling nothing,” Flores wrote. “At the end of the day, I’m human and no one is built to run this hard without taking care of themselves while feeling this much adrenaline.”
Flores, who has been vocal about his mental health advocacy and has covered songs like “How to Save a Life” by the Fray, said that he was confused and heartbroken by his lack of emotions and that he needed to prioritize his self-care and mental health. He also said that he was not ungrateful for his fans and his career, but that he had to be honest with himself and them.
“I can’t sit on stage and tell y’all to go live your life and do what makes you feel alive when I’m not doing the same. It’s been breaking my heart, because I’ve been confused on why I’ve felt numb to the one thing that has made me feel most alive,” he wrote.
Flores received an outpouring of love and support from his fans and fellow artists, who praised him for his courage and honesty and wished him well. Many of them shared their own stories of mental health struggles and thanked him for his music and his message.
Flores, who is currently working on his debut album, said that he hoped to be back on stage soon and that he loved his fans. He also encouraged anyone who was going through a similar situation to seek help and to not give up.
“Please know that you are not alone, and that there is hope. There is always hope. And there is always someone who cares about you and wants you to stay. Please don’t go,” he wrote.