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Megan Thee Stallion departs Broadway show ahead of schedule
The Grammy-winning rapper has ended her run as Zidler in Moulin Rouge! The Musical nearly three weeks before her contract was set to expire. Her final performance at New York's Al Hirschfeld Theatre will take place on 1 May, instead of the originally planned 17 May.
Announcement and speculation
Megan Thee Stallion, 31, shared the news on Instagram, calling it "such an honor to be part of thee Moulin Rouge family." She did not provide a reason for her early exit, but U.S. media outlets have connected it to her recent split from NBA player Klay Thompson.
In a now-deleted Instagram Story, Megan appeared to accuse Thompson of infidelity. The 36-year-old basketball star has not publicly responded, and BBC Newsbeat has reached out to his representatives for comment.
Health concerns and past incidents
Fans have also speculated that Megan's abrupt departure may be linked to a health scare during a late-March performance. She was rushed to the hospital after feeling faint on stage, later explaining on social media, "I thought I was gonna faint... I really tried to push through my performance but I just couldn't."
She added that she had been "running on empty, and my body finally said enough. It honestly scared me." Newsbeat has contacted Megan's team for further clarification on her reasons for leaving the production.
Impact on the show and critical reception
Megan made history as the first woman to play Harold Zidler, the charismatic nightclub owner in the musical. Her casting drew widespread praise and significantly boosted audience interest. Rolling Stone reported that crowds have gathered outside the theater hoping for a glimpse of the star, with fans traveling from across the U.S. to see her perform.
Background on Megan Thee Stallion
Born Megan Pete, the Houston native rose to fame with her 2017 debut EP Make It Hot. She broke into the mainstream with the 2019 hit Hot Girl Summer and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020 with Savage, which later won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2021.
In 2022, Megan was involved in a high-profile legal battle with her former partner, rapper Tory Lanez, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of shooting her in the foot.
