Sam Smith described feeling "heartbroken" after "vocal issues" caused them to stop their Manchester concert last night, just four songs into the set. The singer took to the stage at AO Arena on Wednesday (May 24) and earlier teased fans on social media that there would be a "special surprise" near the end of the gig - they earlier shared a brief clip to social media, hinting at a collaboration with Madonna. However, after performing their 2017 song 'Too Good at Goodbyes', the lights went out at the venue as the show suddenly stopped. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter At first confused fans at the show speculated there was a "power cut" after the lights went dark for approximately 20 minutes but were later informed the show was cancelled due to Smith having "vocal issues". But Smith posted a statement to Instagram to explain the reason their concert was abruptly cut short. "Dearest sailors, I don’t know what to say honestly. I fought off a virus a few weeks ago and since then we have travelled across Europe and had such incredible shows. "Today in soundcheck I felt fine and was so excited to give Manchester an amazing show tonight, with a special surprise at the end," they wrote. "During my third song, I noticed something wrong with my voice. I prayed it was just my voice waking up for the show but into the fourth song I could feel something was really wrong." They added: "I came off stage and have tried everything to get my voice back in gear but it won't. I am honestly heartbroken I couldn't finish the show tonight for you all. I love you all. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry." Since then fans have expressed their disappointment on Twitter, believing Smith should have cancelled their Manchester show earlier. While some described the "anxiety" in the crowd as it was the sixth anniversary of the terror attack at Manchester Arena just days before on May 22. While others wished Smith well, hoping that their voice was okay. Earlier this year, Smith achieved their third UK number one album, with Gloria. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Olivia Dunne showcased her entertainer side, wowing viewers with her dance moves and a Justin Bieber-inspired lip-sync performance

REYKJAVIK, Iceland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 29, 2023--

Wedding dress shopping is supposed to be an activity of dreams, but for one woman it swiftly turned into ‘Black Mirror’-style nightmare. Tessa Coates, a podcaster and comedian, said she spent an hour trying on gowns in a London bridal boutique, with a staff member photographing her in the various options. When she left the shop, she sent some of the snaps to her sister. But as they discussed the dresses, they suddenly spotted a jaw-dropping detail in one of the pics. In the photo, Tessa is standing in front of two mirrors, but her arms and hands are in a totally different position in each. “I looked at the photo and I had a full panic attack in the street,” she said in a video account of her ordeal. “Like, hands and knees, in the middle of Borough Market, just dry heaving.” She said she tried to explain the visual phenomenon by reasoning that it must be a live image or a burst. But she checked it again and, sure enough, it was ostensibly just a standard photograph. Tessa then turned to social media for help, posting the picture to Instagram and Twitter/X, with the caption: “I went wedding dress shopping and the fabric of reality crumbled. “This is a real photo, not photoshopped, not a panorama, not a Live Photo,” she stressed. “If you can’t see the problem, please keep looking and then you won’t be able to unsee it.” The photo racked up dozens of comments and more than 2,400 likes in two days, as viewers shared their horror and glee at the dumbfounding “glitch in the Matrix”. “What in the Black Mirror is happening?” one wrote. “This should be on the 6 o’clock news,” said another. In a lengthy update, shared via her Instagram stories, Tessa said she’d gone back to the bridal shop for answers, asking the shop assistant if she could shed any light on the illusion. But, like her, the woman apparently “lost her mind” and had no way of explaining the terrifying triptych. Meanwhile, Tessa’s “very rational” sister was also on the case, and took the photo to members of the tech department in her office. “There's (sic) eight men looking at the photo, and they're all screaming,” she reported back, leaving Tessa feeling even “worse”. Eventually, she made a pilgrimage to the Apple Store in Covent Garden where she demanded to see a genius. “It takes three geniuses before we find somebody, and each genius is more scared than the last,” Tessa recounted. However, finally, a man called Roger was summoned – who, according to Tessa is “obviously the grand high wizard” – and he told her: “OK, I've never seen it this bad or this scary," but at least he knew what had happened. Roger explained that phones are computers not cameras, and so even when an iPhone takes a standard photo, it takes a series of burst images very quickly from left to write. So at the precise moment the camera was snapping Tessa’s back, she must have raised her hands, causing it to process a completely different set of images on the other side. “It’s made like an AI decision and it stitched those two photos together,” Roger explained. Tessa further noted that Google Pixel has brought out new technology “where you take multiple photos and it chooses the best photo for you”, and that Apple is Beta-testing this technology for its iPhones. Still, she said Roger admitted that the chances of what had happened to her occurring were “a million to one,” but at least his explanation made her feel better and she was finally able to sleep. Wrapping up her account, the comic podcaster said ominously: “Is Roger the man that the Matrix bring out when you get too close to the truth? Who's to say? “Did it make me feel better? Yes. Do I hope it makes you feel better? Yes.” She also pointed out that the incident took place two days after Halloween, saying: “Is that important? No. “But did it feel important at the time? "Yes.” Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings

Donald Trump's very complicated legal calendar is coming into view. It currently appears that his criminal trials will occur after a large portion of Republican primary voters have decided whether to make him their nominee for the third consecutive time, but before Election Day.

The minor's death is being reported just days after a 17-year-old migrant from Honduras died at a facility in Florida

MANILA The Philippines plans to issue its maiden sukuk bonds by the end of November, its finance secretary

Liverpool fans have been left in despair at the club’s latest signing after an announcement on the team’s website revealed how they will get the next generation of fans on board. With the football transfer season well underway, teams have been making various signings with their fans quick to comment on whether they agree with them or not. Liverpool fans appear to have unanimously agreed that their new one is the “worst signing ever” after announcing the club is collaborating with YouTube kids star, Blippi. Blippi is an American YouTube character aimed at preschool age and has become a worldwide sensation with over a billion monthly views on streaming sites. Liverpool announced: “Blippi’s latest adventure is a fun way to introduce the Reds to pre-schoolers across the globe. “Alongside this episode, LFC and Blippi have also collaborated on a new retail range that launches on July 10, available exclusively through LFC’s official retail channels. This is the first time Blippi has collaborated with a sports team outside the USA.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter On Twitter, one fan shared a clip of Blippi at Anfield and called it “the worst signing we’ve ever made”. In the clip, an overwhelmingly enthusiastic Blippi addressed LFC families, but for some the collab seems a stretch too far. One Liverpool fan wrote: “Really hope we get relegated for this cringy crap.” Another said: “If we're s**te again next season, this f**kers gettin' the blame.” But, others saw the silver lining, with one arguing: “Would still take him over [Harry] Maguire.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

TJ Friedl hit a two-run triple in the second inning and seven Cincinnati relievers combined on five shutout innings as the Reds beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3

SYDNEY Australian inflation slowed more than expected in the June quarter thanks to falls in the cost of

Rex Heuermann's family members have reportedly sold their life rights to Peacock/NBC for the docuseries

When A-Level results day comes around, the annual Jeremy Clarkson tweet is tradition - and this year's tweet has been backed by Rishi Sunak. Since 2014, the former Top Gear presenter has taken to Twitter/X to share the fact that he got a C and 2 U's when he was at school and that despite his results, he ended up doing well for himself. At the end of each tweet, there is a new and not-so-humble brag about his success - such as having "loads of friends and a Bentley [in 2021]," and "a Mercedes Benz [in 2014]." So what was Clarkson's 2023 results day tweet? "It’s not the end of the world if your A level results aren’t what you’d hoped for. I got a C and 2 Us and here I am today with my own brewery," the 63-year-old tweeted. Now, prime minister Rishi Sunak has supported Clarkson's message with a retweet and noted how he has a "good point." "Jeremy has made a career of being the exception not the rule but he does have a good point here: Results day is important, but not necessarily a deal-breaker," Sunak tweeted. He added: "Whatever results you got today, there are lots of options available to you." Though some were far from impressed by the endorsement given the presenter's controversies over the years and the fact that both Sunak and Clarkson went to private schools. Elsewhere In Pictures: Smiles abound as A-level results are released, Gary Neville's hot take on results day is being praised for 'accuracy', and Nadine Dorries shares bizarre message to anxious A-Level students. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.