R&B fans were all dressed up and ready for the Ashanti and Keyshia Cole Verzuz battle that was scheduled to take place on Saturday (Dec. 12) night. Rumors began to surface on social media in the afternoon that the musical showdown between the R&B divas would be canceled, and fans immediately started sharing their reactions on Twitter.
For a lot of fans, the battle was supposed to be the highlight of their weekend and soon they saw their plans come crashing down after it was confirmed that the show would be postponed after Ashanti tested positive for COVID-19—and fans weren’t pleased.
Since the battle was announced earlier this month, fans were looking forward to a night full of music and watching along the singers exchanging the stories and histories behind their biggest songs. Many shared their plans and what outfits they would be wearing to watch the battle, and some fans complained that the Verzuz was going to be the best part of their weekend.
Others planned viewing parties and gatherings with their loved ones to watch what would have been an epic battle, despite the ongoing pandemic.
Once the news broke and it was officially confirmed that the two songstresses weren’t going head to head, the singers’ fans were emotional and made sure they shared their feelings with the world.
Ashanti took to Instagram to reveal why the event didn’t take place. She posted a message that read, “Hey y’all. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I tested positive for COVID-19. I’m OK and not in any pain. I’m actually down to do the Verzuz from my house…we’re trying to figure it out.” Some people couldn’t help but express their frustrations and were quick to criticize Ashanti’s decisions that led to the cancelation, with some saying that her recent trips led to her diagnosis—which she later denied on Instagram Live.
While some were disappointed to hear that the show was rescheduled for Jan. 9, others demanded that the singers continued the battle from their respective homes via Instagram Live the way the Verzuz battles were done initially.
Unfortunately, fans will have to wait another month before they get to watch the two R&B legends go head to head. But, not too long. Verzuz officially announced that the new date will be on Saturday, Jan. 9. and wished Ashanti a speedy recovery. “Unfortunately, we have to postpone tonight’s @Ashanti vs @KeyshiaCole #VERZUZ. Ashanti tested positive for COVID-19 beforehand, and we cannot put anyone at risk in the process,” the Instagram post read. “First time this has struck us so close to showtime. We apologize to our incredible audience! Get well soon, Ashanti. Wear a mask, stay inside, and take COVID-19 seriously. It’s truly affecting our community.”
Check out some more hilarious tweets about the postponed Ashanti and Keyshia Cole Verzuz below.