Rain and Rage: Travis Scott’s Delayed Joburg Show Sparks Fan Backlash

When the Show Was Late, the Rain Came: A Jozi Concert Night to Remember

Rain had the headline first. Then Travis Scott’s tardiness.
By the time the show got going in Johannesburg, the city and its people had already written a story of expectation, frustration and shared memory.

Setting the Stage: Jozi was Ready

This was going to be big. The Circus Maximus leg in Johannesburg drew huge hype: FNB Stadium, the same ground that has hosted legendary shows, was packed to capacity. Big Concerts had made clear the plan: gates opening at 16:00, Travis Scott scheduled for 20:30.

Johannesburg’s traffic, night life, urban haze, all would play supporting roles in the evening’s drama. Locals on social media had already plotted their route, braced themselves for queues, and reserved ride apps well ahead.

The JMPD (Johannesburg Metro Police) issued traffic advisories and warned of full road closures around the stadium from 11:00 onward, roads like Nasrec Road, Booysens Reserve, the Golden Highway would be off limits for normal traffic.

@shugz_suiker

♬ original sound – 🔊Shugz🔊

WHERE TF IS TRAVIS SCOTT???? #CIRCUSMAXIMUSTOUR #circusmaximus pic.twitter.com/yEPCIDX2mY

KP (@not_kingkay) October 11, 2025

Clouds Rolling In, The Rain Threat

By mid-evening, skies darkened. Light drizzle turned to heavier drops. Social feeds lit up: “Will this even happen?” “Don’t cancel now!” “Is Travis on the stage yet?”

Chris brown wouldn’t have done this #circusmaximus

BAFANA MTHEMBU (@_BafanaMthembu) October 11, 2025

One post (from a user @not_kingkay) captured the tension: people already soaked, waiting under tickets and umbrellas. Another (via POPianoPlug) teased that the rain might be foreshadowing more than a storm, like a bad omen for the timing.

Travis was scheduled to begin his set 30 minutes ago, he still hasn’t arrived. #circusmaximus #CIRCUSMAXIMUSTOUR 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/GZwI2x1m1D

KP (@not_kingkay) October 11, 2025

Travis Scott finally gets on stage, over an hour late. #CastleLiteUnlocks #TravisScott #CircusMaximus #POPianoPlug pic.twitter.com/AgcrbaV7PR

POPiano Plug (@POPianoPlug) October 11, 2025

like the rain has stopped now bro😭 #circusmaximus

Homesick (@DJHomesick) October 11, 2025

The fact is: a downpour, even mild, in an open stadium is a show disruptor. Sound systems, lighting, stage rigs, all become vulnerable. And for a star like Travis Scott, whose show relies on intricate visuals and pyrotechnics, timing is critical.

70K people in the stadium booing bro. an HOUR AND A HALF LATE??? 😭😭😭 #CIRCUSMAXIMUSTOUR #circusmaximus pic.twitter.com/JAVTX8USy8

KP (@not_kingkay) October 11, 2025

The Wait, Travis Gets Late

As the clock passed 20:30, murmurs turned to frustration. Fans posted videos of empty stage, speakers humming but no artist in sight. Several mocked the idea: “Late just to make an entrance?” “Rain, wind, is this how the show starts?”

A key detail from Big Concerts’ FAQ: gates close at 20:30, meaning latecomers might not even get in. www.bigconcerts.co.za For many, the tension was: what if he shows up after they lock the gates?

Some social media accounts suggested the delay was not just weather-related. One post from Europeanminded speculated technical issues exacerbated by moisture. Another from Hiltonolugabes mused: “They said 8:30, now it’s 9:15, maybe 10.” The crowd, electric but restless, waited. A few fans even joked the rain was the opening act.

Why is Travis late and we waiting with no update an hour now @BigConcerts @trvisXX @TRAVISONTOUR #travisscotttour #circusmaximus #fnbstadium pic.twitter.com/1XahAmvJti

Hilton Gabriels (@Hiltonolugabes) October 11, 2025

@shugz_suiker♬ original sound – 🔊Shugz🔊

@funwa04 We’ve been waiting in the rain for almost 2 hours and not even the local acts have performed🤣😭 #circusmaximustour #tiktoksouthafrica🇿🇦 #fyp #travisscott #vlog ♬ QKThr – Aphex Twin

A Rain-Soaked Moment, A Shared Memory

When Travis finally hit the stage, the rain had already made its mark. Jackets were soaked, shoes were muddy, and the air had that distinctive smell of wet concrete and sweat.

Yet something interesting happened: the delay and the weather turned into part of the experience. Fans live-streamed the moment he emerged, capturing the first beat as a kind of victory cry, “We survived the wait and the rain.”

This nigga Travis forgot he’s performing. 😭 #CIRCUSMAXIMUSTOUR #circusmaximus pic.twitter.com/fxgyQSaU8V

KP (@not_kingkay) October 11, 2025

On X, DJ Homesick commented on how the crowd’s mood shifted from impatience to resilience: “They cheered louder, we’re here. Let’s go.” Others praised the production crew for sticking it through.

In a sense, the late start and the rain became the prelude, a spontaneous “concert within a concert” of endurance and communal energy.

@simekanii #travisscott #travisscottfnbstadium ♬ original sound – Simekani

The first time Travis Scott FE!N performed live at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, he performed the song5 times at show. #CircusMaximus pic.twitter.com/fTLhhvFx4I

UY Scuti (@europeanminded) October 11, 2025

What a night… FE!N #circusmaximus https://t.co/3EZmu94cdZ pic.twitter.com/kZRRrMKMRH

Sibusiso (@Si_bu_siso) October 11, 2025

I had a couple more “Fein!’s” in me 6 wasn’t enough. #circusmaximus

Gangatroni🗝 (@Delv_5) October 11, 2025

Why This Night Matters (Beyond the Headliner)

A few broader reflections:

• Johannesburg as a global stage: That this huge spectacle came to Jozi says something. South Africa, and Johannesburg in particular, continues to signal itself as a destination for international music heavyweights. The logistical challenges, crowds, security, weather are part of the growing pains.

• Concert timing vs expectation: In many parts of South Africa, events run late. But fans increasingly demand accountability. This show tested that balance: how late is too late?

• Weather risk in outdoor shows: Across the world, rain has disrupted tours and forced cancellations. Big nights demand better contingency plans, roofs, cover systems, backup scheduling.

• Memory over perfection: Many fans later said: “It won’t be the cleanest show, but we’ll remember this.” The rain and delay are etched in their minds as part of the story.

A Night That Won’t Be Forgotten

Concerts are always about more than the music, they’re about place, people, and the moment. On that wet Jozi night, circumstances had as much say as Travis’s setlist. The delay, the rain, the tension, they all layered into the memory.

If you’re planning for future stadium shows (whether as a promoter, artist, or fan), here’s what to take away:

• Build in buffer time (artist gets delayed, nature intervenes).

• Communicate clearly to fans, hourly updates help.

• Have rain/resilience plans, gear, stage covers, safety first.

• Embrace the unpredictable, sometimes the story is more powerful than the show.

Johannesburg, you showed that even under damp skies and long waits, the energy to celebrate still burns bright.

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