Singer Robin Thicke has been forced to cancel a scheduled performance at Sunday night鈥檚 Juno Awards because he has been placed on 鈥渕andatory vocal rest,鈥� CTV and The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has confirmed.
"This is show business, so we鈥檙e always prepared for this type of situation," John Brunton, the show鈥檚 executive producer, said Sunday in a press release.
Thicke, who was nominated for multiple Juno Awards including artist of the year, also postponed concerts on Friday and Saturday as well, the release said.
Earlier in March, an "unexpected vocal issue," was a problem at a show at Ontario鈥檚 Casino Rama, and Thicke, 37, was forced to cancel and reschedule that show as well.
In some circles, Thicke鈥檚 scheduled performance at the Juno Awards was hotly anticipated, as the Canadian-American pop star was coming off a big year in 2013, gaining international fame with the blockbuster song 鈥淏lurred Lines.鈥�
But it also created controversy. Ever since its release, 鈥淏lurred Lines鈥� has received widespread criticism, as some say the song鈥檚 lyrics and music video promote sexism, rape culture and the overall degradation of woman.
Thicke's addition to the Juno lineup even prompted a on the website site Change.org asking Juno organizers to drop his performance and nominations from the show.
"We started the petition because we want to protest the celebration of this song and this message at the Canadian Juno Awards, which are supposed to be a celebration of the best and brightest in Canadian music," Catherine Vanner, who started the petition, told CTV News Channel.
By Saturday evening, the petition had received approximately 1,100 signatures, close to its goal of 1,500.
Thicke鈥檚 absence from the Juno performer鈥檚 list doesn鈥檛 mean the show will be left without star power. Big name like Classified, One Republic, Sarah McLachlan and Serena Ryder are all schedule to take the stage.
"If rehearsals are any indication, viewers will be treated to a fantastic broadcast, and a few surprises as well," Brunton said.
