MIKE PORTNOY Issues Apology Following Online Rant Against London Hospital – "I Surely Never Meant For Such Attention And Controversy"

On March 7th drum legend Mike Portnoy – currently on the road with Neal Morse – took to Facebook to express his dissatisfaction with the Whittington Hospital in London, England when he fell ill: 

“A very special NO THANKS to the staff at the Whittington Hospital for NOT seeing me regardless of telling them that there is an audience waiting for our show to begin. I finally left without seeing a doctor in order to make tonight’s show. I have no idea how the hell I’m going to make it through this show. I can’t even stand up or lift my arms…”

The post led to a monumental online shitstorm, with many of Portnoy’s fans carving him for what was interpreted as a diva attitude and expecting preferential treatment. Portnoy has since posted an apology on Facebook, as follows:

“I’d just like to apologize to anybody I offended with yesterday’s post It was not a personal attack or rage against England’s health care system in general (of which I know nothing about). Yesterday I was the sickest I’ve EVER been in my life. 

The paramedics came to see me at the gig and then decided to take me to the emergency room, only for the ambulance to run out of gas and I was then driven to the hospital by a very kind fan who offered to help. Neal and I calmly waited in the A&E without any indication from any of the staff of when I would be seen. I did NOT expect any special treatment or wanted to be put ahead of anybody else in need (as I have been so wrongly accused). We only wanted some (ANY!) answers as the clock was ticking until showtime.

At 7:45, I had to make the decision to continue to wait and cancel the show or leave without being seen in order to make the 8pm show. I desperately did NOT want to disappoint the fans and made the decision to leave in order to make the show. I played the show in the worst physical condition of my life. 
I’m sure you can imagine how frustrating this experience was and I stupidly posted about it on my social media. 

I am shocked and appalled at some of the rude and downright nasty comments that have been posted in the wake of this. Really, 10 times worse than my post. It’s sad to see such hatred, but whatever, I can suck it up and take it. I surely never meant for such attention and controversy.
 
Thank you to everybody that cared and sent me well wishes and prayers…the positive vibes will help me on the road to recovery.

In any case, I really need to crawl back in my bunk, get off the internet to try and recooperate…but I wanted to address this issue and explain what happened and apologize to whomever I offended.”

Remaining tour dates are as follows:

March
9 – Paris FR – Divan du Monde
11 – Aschaffenburg DE – Colo-Saal
12 – Mannheim DE – Alte Seilerei
13 – Hamburg DE – Markthalle
14 – Bochum DE – Matrix