Method Man Speaks Out After Not Appearing at Wu-Tang Clan's Australia Shows: 'I Said I Wasn't Going'
Method Man Speaks Out After Not Appearing at Wu-Tang Clan's Australia Shows: 'I Said I Wasn't Going'
Jack IrvinTue, April 7, 2026 at 5:27 PM UTC
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Method Man in June 2024Credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty -
Method Man clarified he skipped Wu-Tang Clan's Australia shows due to prior commitments in his acting career
He criticized promoters for advertising "all living members" despite knowing he wouldn’t attend the tour
Australian ticketing company Ticketek offered refunds after multiple members missed the performances
Method Man is speaking out about his absence from Wu-Tang Clan's recent shows in Australia.
The rapper and actor, 55, along with fellow Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon, Cappadonna and Young Dirty Bastard, did not join the group for a string of shows in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney after the tour was previously announced to feature "all living members."
In an Instagram Live stream over the weekend, Method Man explained why he did not appear at the shows. "Before we even went on the overseas tour, I wasn’t going. I said I wasn’t going. I said I was booked," he said.
Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, RZA and GZA of Wu-Tang Clan in March 2026Credit: Francesco Prandoni/Getty
The musician, born Clifford Smith Jr., explained he's expanded his career to other avenues of entertainment, leading to other obligations that kept him from joining the Australia tour. He recently starred in the Prime Video film Relationship Goals with Kelly Rowland.
Method Man claimed promoters knew he wouldn't appear at the Australian shows before pushing the language that the "all living members" would perform.
"I was seeing flyers saying all living members are going to be there and s---, and I’m looking at this s---, like, they know that I haven’t agreed to go on the tour yet. This is promoters, overzealous promoters and s---," he said. "I told the guys before we left, I said there’s a chance I will do the overseas dates, but there is no chance that I am going to Dubai or Australia because I’m booked. I have other obligations that I have. And they knew this before we even left for the tour."
Method Man added, "The fact that this is the second time or third time that this has happened, you guys have to somehow know that at the end of the day while you’re blaming the artists who should show up by the way, especially if they say they are, you guys have to look at the promoters sometimes. Because sometimes the promoters are privy to this information but don’t want to give out this information, you know? They’ll wait for the ticket sales, and then they’ll make an announcement close to the date, which I don’t think is fair."
He further noted, "When I made the statement that I wouldn’t be going to Dubai or Australia, I think it should have been known to the general public that Method Man won’t be making these dates."
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Method Man expressed his "love" for Wu-Tang Clan's fans as well as Australia. "But again, if I’m booked, I’m booked," he said.
PEOPLE reached out to a rep for Method Man.
RZA, U-God, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Masta Killa, GZA and Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan in April 1997Credit: Bob Berg/Getty
The Australian dates were promoted as a farewell run with a full Wu-Tang lineup. The group includes RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004. His son Young Dirty Bastard has stepped in for his dad on a number of shows.
Rolling Stone reported that Wu-Tang announced before the Australia shows that Method Man would not appear. According to the outlet, the group did not explain Raekwon, Cappadonna or Young Dirty Bastard's absences.
Following the Brisbaine show on March 25, Australian ticketing company Ticketek offered refunds to fans who no longer wanted to attend the Sydney and Melbourne performances.
“We want to make fans aware that due to unforeseen circumstances, a couple of members will be unable to join the remaining tour dates in Melbourne and Sydney,” the company said in a statement to Billboard. “Wu-Tang Clan will be performing and bringing everything that has made them one of the most iconic live acts in hip-hop history.”
A spokesperson for Wu-Tang Clan and for Ticketek did not respond to PEOPLE’s previous request for comment on the matter.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
