Megan Thee Stallion is bowing out of Moulin Rouge! early.
The Grammy-winning rapper will perform her final show as Zidler in the Broadway musical this Friday, May 1, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. She was originally scheduled to be in the lights through May 17.
“It’s been such an honor to be part of Moulin Rouge and I’ve met so many amazing people in this theater. Y’all work so hard and I have so much respect for the dedication, the stamina, the work ethic, the time and the effort y’all put into the work,” she said in a statement. “Every single person at the Moulin Rouge has inspired me to go harder as an entertainer. I’m so grateful for the cast and crew that made this experience so meaningful. Y’all are really some of the kindest human beings I’ve ever met! To all the Hotties that showed up or planned to attend, thank you for supporting me during this incredible journey!”
A replacement performer for has yet to be announced for her run from May 2-17. Megan Thee Stallion was the first female performer to play the role of Zidler, who had previously been known as Harold Zidler. As previously announced, Moulin Rouge! The Musical was extended five weeks, with a finale performance now set for Aug. 30.
The move comes amid some personal and professional drama for Megan Thee Stallion during the show’s run. She exited a performance of the jukebox musical mid-show in April, and her rep stated that she sought treatment: “On Tuesday evening, Megan was transported to a local hospital to undergo a medical evaluation after experiencing concerning symptoms. Doctors ultimately identified extreme exhaustion, dehydration, vasoconstriction and low metabolic levels as the cause of her symptoms. Megan has since been treated, discharged and is now resting.”
She returned to the show two days later, and she called the illness “a real wake-up call,” adding, “I’ve been pushing myself past my limits lately, running on empty, and my body finally said enough. It honestly scared me. I thought I was gonna faint on stage, I really tried to push through my performance but I just couldn’t. Hotties I wanna be real with y’all because you mean everything to me and I hate letting yall down.”
Then over the weekend, the rapper took to Instagram to confirm that she and her boyfriend, NBA star Klay Thompson, had split up as she claimed he had been unfaithful. “Cheating, had me around your whole family playing house… got ‘cold feet,’” she wrote in a post shared on Instagram Stories. “Holding you down through all your HORRIBLE mood swings and treatment towards me during your basketball season, now you don’t know if you can be ‘monogamous????’ Bitch I need a REAL break after this one .. bye yall.”
In a more formal statement shared with People, Megan said, “I’ve made the decision to end my relationship with Klay. Trust, fidelity and respect are non-negotiable for me in a relationship, and when those values are compromised, there’s no real path forward. I’m taking this time to prioritize myself and move ahead with peace and clarity.”
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