The Pussycat Dolls once warned fans to “be careful what you wish for” in their hit When I Grow Up.
Now, the reunion tour supporters had long hoped to see has opened with far more turbulence than anyone could have anticipated.
Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Roberts have endured a string of setbacks since their comeback began in September. The trio will be hoping for a much smoother experience when the UK leg gets underway later this week.
The highly anticipated tour has been hit by disappointing ticket sales, reported tensions among members, cancelled performances and serious injuries.
Nicole, 48, suffered a painful injury last month when she accidentally spilled boiling water on her leg just an hour before she was due to perform.
Kimberly, 44, has also been recovering from hip surgery carried out before the tour began.
Ashley, 45, meanwhile, broke down in tears after admitting she had nearly withdrawn from the shows. She said she had been “freaking out” before performing a solo amid claims that she could not sing.
The comeback was surrounded by controversy even before the first performance, after founding members Carmit Bachar, Jessica Sutta and Melody Thornton were left out of the reunion.
As the Pussycat Dolls prepare to launch the UK leg of their reunion tour this Friday, here is a look at the challenges that have already confronted the group.
The Pussycat Dolls will be hoping for a smoother UK tour after a turbulent start to their comeback
Poor ticket sales forced the group to cancel the entire US leg of their comeback tour
Low ticket prices and cancelling tour dates
The group announced their return in March, unveiling Club Song—their first single in six years—which was produced and co-written by Mike Sabath.
However, weak demand ultimately led to the cancellation of the entire North American section of their comeback tour.
Ashley, Nicola and Kimberly had initially revealed plans to reunite as a trio for a major 53-date tour across the UK, Europe and North America.
In a major setback, the trio scrapped the 33 dates scheduled across the US and Canada after poor sales left venues as much as 80 per cent empty.
Organisers had even reduced ticket prices to $30, but were still forced to cancel the dates just one month before the planned opening concert in Palm Desert, California, on June 5.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the band said they had hoped to take the PCD FOREVER Tour to fans around the world.
They explained that, after reviewing the North American schedule, they had made the “difficult and heartbreaking decision” to cancel all but one of the dates in the region.
The group added that their UK and European performances would continue as planned, pointing to an “incredible” response and several sold-out shows.
They also promised to devote all their efforts to making the concerts a celebration of the group’s music and memories for longtime fans, as well as those discovering the Pussycat Dolls for the first time.
‘We’re working hard to create the kind of show we’ve always dreamed of bringing to you. We cannot wait to bring this reunion to Europe and make these nights unforgettable.’
The trio kicked off their tour in Copenhagen in September followed by shows in Paris, Warsaw and the UK.
Those who bought tickets from Ticketmaster or AXS were informed they would receive a full refund automatically, while those who bought theirs from third-party resellers have been advised to contact their point of purchase.
Nicole Scherzinger’s horror burn
Nicole suffered a horror burn injury after accidently spilling boiling water on her legs moments before she was due on stage in Germany
She revealed the scars on her leg following the incident, which happened just an hour before she was due to perform with the band in Düsseldorf
Nicole suffered a horror burn injury after accidentally spilling boiling water on her legs just moments before she was due on stage in Germany.
The singer posted a picture showing the blisters on her leg following the accident, which happened on September 26.
Nicole was left with nasty burns and blisters down one of her legs but, ever the professional, she has proved that the show must go on.
Fans and friends flooded the comments with support, including iconic disco singer Gloria Gaynor who said: ‘You are a warrior!’
Nothing stopped Nicole from her usual theatrical, dance-heavy performance complete with the band’s sequined costumes.
‘Nothing like boiling water falling on your leg an hour before your set – but the show must go on,’ the singer wrote.
‘Thanks Dusseldorf for keeping me going. See you soon Amsterdam.’
In the event of a burn, the NHS recommends immediately cooling the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes and removing any tight clothing or jewellery near the area before swelling starts.
Feuds in the group
The band’s comeback has been marred in controversy due to the exclusion of three founding members (Kimberly, Melody, Ashley, Nicole, Jessica and Carmit pictured in 2005)
The Pussycat Dolls’ comeback has been marred in controversy since it was first announced due to the exclusion of three of the group’s founding members, Carmit Bachar, Jessica Sutta and Melody Thornton.
Carmit and Jessica have since revealed they were blindsided by the reunion and were never even asked to take part, with the latter going as far as to call it a ‘cash grab’.
Asked by a fan if she was going to meet up with the rest of the Pussycat Dolls, Jessica replied: ‘No, I’m not. They have been planning it for a year and blatantly didn’t ask Carmit and I.
‘We are finding it all out the same time as you are. I was not contacted regarding the group’s decision to move forward, and I learned of these plans at the same time as the public.’
Carmit went on to call the trio’s move ‘disappointing on a personal level’ but added that she remains ‘proud of the role I played in helping shape what The Pussycat Dolls became’.
‘My intention in sharing this is not to create division, but to honor the truth and the fans who have supported us throughout the years,’ she continued.
‘Transparency and respect are values I hold deeply. At this time, I am choosing to focus on my wellbeing and to move forward with positivity and purpose.’
Technical issues
Fans were left baffled last month as a reported technical issue stopped Nicole performing their hit song Buttons during their show in Poland – leaving Ashley and Kimberly awkwardly dancing on stage.
The gig was thrown into chaos when lead singer Nicole was missing from the first half of the song, with it being said that a technical problem or a wardrobe malfunction was to blame.
After Nicole had just performed a medley of her solo tracks, the concert then moved into a climactic moment for their massive global hit Buttons.
But the lead singer was nowhere to be seen, leaving just Ashley and Kimberly performing the impressive choreography while a backing track played.
In a fan video shared to Instagram, the highly awkward moment saw the women fail to step in and sing Nicole’s part, simply chiming in with their minimal vocals with a large gap between them where Nicole should have been.
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The blunder attracted plenty of comments from bewildered fans questioning why Ashley or Kimberly didn’t seize the moment to show off their vocals, with many noting that former member Melody would have stepped up.
While Nicole did a majority of the vocals, Melody, 42, occasionally sang lead vocals and major ad-libs in some Pussycat Dolls numbers, with the singer famously stealing the spotlight by belting out unassigned harmonies during a performance of Buttons at the 2006 American Music Awards.
Tickled fans penned in the comments: ‘Where’s Melody when you need her?’
‘THIS WAS YOUR CHANCE LADIES’; ‘Melody would’ve said watch this’
‘glorified oh oh girls, THAT WAS UR CHANCE KIM & ASHLEY!!! but neither of them stepping up to fill in shows me EXACTLY why those 2 were asked to return. Carmit & Melody would have moved to center & taken that opportunity IMMEDIATELY.’;
‘Melody could’ve saved the day; ‘Now Melody on the other hand wouldn’t have waisted a single SECOND’;
‘No one wanted to take this moment to shine? No one? Sad.’
Kimberly Wyatt’s hip operation
During the tour, Kimberly stated that she had undergone a hip replacement as she shared a series of snaps from her hospital bed
During the tour, Kimberly said that she had hip replacement surgery as she shared a series of snaps from her hospital bed.
The singer had the major operation two years ago, but she has shared little detail about what she went through.
But taking to Instagram on Monday, the singer revealed more about her health ordeal, telling her followers that prior to the procedure she could barely walk and was left limping around, while she also struggled to sleep due to the intense pain.
Kimberly is seen breaking down in tears in one video, while pictures show her hobbling about on crutches while wearing compression socks.
The star is also supported by her then four-year-old son, who sweetly holds her hand in one snap as she rests in bed.
Alongside the pictures and videos, Kimberly penned a lengthy message in which she explained why she had the operation, her recovery and how it has changed her perspective on strength.
She wrote: ‘I had a moment tonight. I’m in Dublin, settling into another hotel room, and I’d taken in too much. Too much news. Too much of what’s happening to women. Too much casual cruelty online.
‘Too much of the stuff people seem to get away with and a bit too much from my own little world too.’
The singer, who is currently on tour with the reformed group, had the major operation two years ago, but she has shared little detail about what she went through
The Don’t Cha hitmaker spoke about her previous anguish that the body that has served her so well had ‘broken down’ as well as her amazement that it’s still going strong on tour
She continued: ‘So I got in the bath and somewhere in there I realised I needed to give my brain something else to hold onto. Something good, Something I’m proud of.
‘Which, weirdly took me straight to my hip. A few years ago I could barely walk. For nearly two years, I limped through every day and barely slept because of the pain.
‘I remember watching my children playing on holiday and being in too much pain to walk over to them. I just stood there and I was scared.’
She then explained how she was told she needed a hip replacement and said she was inspired by tennis star Andy Murray, who had hip resurfacing surgery in 2019.
The Don’t Cha hitmaker spoke about her previous anguish that the body that has served her so well had ‘broken down’ as well as her amazement that it’s still going strong on tour after the hip replacement, four surgeries and three caesareans.
She remarked: ‘I barely spoke publicly about my hip at the time. I’d spent my whole life being the strong, athletic one. My body was my instrument. Admitting it had broken down felt frightening.
‘So I quietly got on with it. And tonight I thought about where those legs are now. On a Pussycat Dolls tour. After four major surgeries. Three Caesareans. One hip replacement. And somehow this body is still dancing.
‘Not like it did at 20. There’s been a battle in accepting that. But it dances. It gets me onto that stage. It lets me sweat, perform, lose myself in music and do the thing I knew I wanted to do when I was a kid. That’s f**king brilliant.’
Ashley Roberts’ ‘freak out’
Ashley revealed she was ‘freaking out’ about singing live during the Pussycat Dolls reunion tour after worrying about her ability to perform a solo
Ashley Roberts revealed she was ‘freaking out’ about singing live during The Pussycat Dolls reunion tour.
The dancer admitted she almost cancelled a portion of the set list after worrying about her ability to perform a solo.
The star shared a video she filmed at the start of the tour in September, which showed her in floods of tears as she attempted to overcome her nerves.
Ashley explained how she had decided to step out of her comfort zone and sing a solo during the tour to ‘show the strength that I have gained over the last decades’.
But the star confessed she was ‘freaking out’ after years of being told the group, who are arguably more famous for their dance moves, can’t sing.
‘Can I pull it off the way that I want to pull it off? Am I capable, am I enough? Even talking about it my throat is clenching up,’ she told fans in the video.
‘I was gonna pull out, I was not gonna do it because I was psyching myself out saying it’s gonna sound like s**t,’ she continued.
‘A lot of the history within this group was like that we can’t sing, “they were just dancers” and I love dance so much, it’s my passion, it’s my best friend. It’s the most beautiful form of therapy ever but I wanted to prove to myself I could do this.’
Getting more emotional, she explained: ‘I was beating myself up for this becuase you promote people believing in themselves and what if you can’t do it.’
Ashley explained that it was the encouragement of her ‘beautiful’ vocal coach Josh, who has worked with chart-toppers including Raye, that convinced her to continue with the solo.
The star shared a video she filmed at the start of the tour in September, which showed her in a flood of tears as she attempted to overcome her nerves
Breaking down in tears, she said: ‘There’s just been so many years of a subconcious belief that I can’t and so to have someone believe in me and then to heal this part of me is gonna be so big.’
She ended the emotional video by promising that she would perform the solo and stick to the whole ethos of the tour, declaring ‘sometimes it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be real.’
Ashley explained in the caption for the video that since recording the ‘raw and vulnerable’ confession she has grown in confidence.
‘I filmed this at the start of the tour and honestly, I really didn’t want to post it. Now we’re well into the tour, I’m feeling more confident in myself and my solo, and I can look back at this moment with a lil more love for myself,’ she gushed, prompting an outpouring of supportive comments from fans.
‘Looking back, I realise some of that fear had been sitting with me for a long time. This tour has been such a blessing, giving me the chance to face it, work through it and heal.
‘I’m feeling less afraid of what comes up because I know I can move through it.’
‘And the love and support y’all have shown me along the way… my god I’ve felt it so much. Thank you for cheering me on as I grow into this next version of myself.’