Singer Jay Chou opens up about suffering from panic attacks during his Carnival World Tour
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Jay Chou said that at times, he did think of cancelling some shows due to his condition, but eventually held back from doing so.
PHOTO: JAYCHOU/INSTAGRAM
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In concert, Jay Chou is seen as a glittering superstar shining before tens of thousands of adoring fans.
But the Taiwanese Mandopop singer recently revealed he suffered from panic attacks which prevented him from going on stage.
In an Instagram post on Oct 12 marking the end of his Carnival World Tour, which ran from 2019 to 2025, the 46-year-old wrote: “During the tour, there were actually some things I couldn’t control, like panic attacks that (almost) prevented me from going on stage, when my voice was not in good condition, and when I was under a lot of pressure.”
He said he thought of cancelling some shows due to his condition, but eventually refrained from doing so. He added: “Thinking about everyone who might have waited years for a concert... I could only push forward.”
Chou has not opened up about his panic attacks in the past, although he did wonder if a health scare he faced in 2022
Back then, he had uploaded on social media a photo of an intravenous drip in his arm, with the caption revealing he had “breathing problems and numbness of the arm”. However, it seemed to be a one-time incident and the original post was subsequently deleted.
Chou reportedly once suffered from ankylosing spondylitis, a genetic arthritic condition that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments in the spine. But this condition improved after his friend, Taiwanese personal trainer Will Liu, encouraged him to exercise more.
Chou’s Carnival World Tour, which celebrated his over two decades in the music industry, comprised some 110 shows across Asia and included countries like Britain, France and Australia. The final show took place at the Shanghai Stadium in China on Oct 11.
The tour stopped in Singapore three times and featured a total of seven sold-out concerts staged at the National Stadium – two in 2020, two in 2022 and three in 2024.
He is the first Asian singer to perform three consecutive shows at the venue.
In his post, the entertainer thanked his fans for singing with him during his long-running tour over the years.
He wrote: “There may be some reluctance and disappointment, but more of it is anticipation for our next reunion.
“I do not know if I can sing in the original key for every show on the next tour, but I know I will be back on stage to continue making memories with you.”
According to reports, Chou will embark on a new tour from 2026, in celebration of his 25th anniversary in show business.
