"Has been showing worrying signs for like the entirety"— Fans raise concern over Conor Oberst in wake of the recent drunk show  

Singer-songwriter Conor Oberst, best known as the frontman of the indie rock band Bright Eyes, recently made headlines after appearing drunk on stage at a few shows and making troubling remarks. During his September 15 concert in Cleveland, Ohio, the 44-year-old addressed the crowd while slurring his words, saying:

“Alright, Sorry, the sound of my voice is so f**ked up... I'm gonna take care of it... probably not, I'm gonna kill myself, so..."

Later, when one of his bandmates seemingly tried to correct him and whispered something in his ears, Conor added, “Apparently, I'm not supposed to say that on stage… a.k.a I'm not going to kill myself.” At one point, he even stopped mid-performance and told his band members and the crowd that he could not recall a section of the song’s lyrics.

A fan uploaded a video of his on-stage remarks and slip-up under the influence of alcohol, raising concerns among his well-wishers. Reddit user @TheJediCounsel commented under @oldtimersmi’s post on the r/emo page sharing the now-viral clip.

“I think Conor is one of the artists who I’ve felt like has been showing worrying signs for like the entirety I’ve known about Bright Eyes,” the user wrote.

A fan points out how Conor Oberst has been struggling for years. (Image via Reddit)

Several others joined the conversation and shared similar concerns on the social media platform X, hoping the Souled Out crooner receives the help he needs/deserves.

“Just watched the video of Conor Oberst from Sunday and my heart broke. It reminded me of Alice in Chains Unplugged where you knew that Layne was on his last legs just by looking at him. Heartbreaking to see, I hope he is getting help but I also feel like it's past that point,” one user wrote.

“Conor Oberst isn’t going to live within the next 5 years man. Get him off tour, get him the help he needs. It’s become astoundingly clear that the drinking is slowly killing him and we as fans can’t tolerate that any longer,” wrote another.

Others continued to show their support for the Omaha, Nebraska native, pointing out that Conor Oberst was perhaps suffering from mental health issues apart from drinking problems.

“It is very sad to hear that Conor Oberst is suffering badly from alcoholism. I saw Bright Eyes at Coachella 2005, back when I was obsessed with his songwriting. Seeking help for mental health struggles is a life-saving choice. I hope Oberst seeks help someday,” an individual wrote.

“I hope Conor Oberst gets help. No one in a vulnerable state should be encouraged to be on stage. Shame on his entire team,” another individual wrote.

Here are some more comments seeking immediate aid for Conor Oberst.

“It's so hard to watch, I really hope someone steps in if he can't help himself,” a netizen wrote.

“This makes me so sad. His music has meant so much to me but seeing people clearly suffering is just awful. Like you, I hope he gets the help he needs," another person wrote.

“That was brutal, man. I wonder if it would be better for Conor to cancel the rest of the tour and focus on himself,” a fan wrote.

So far, Conor Oberst has not commented on the matter amid the viral video and fan concerns.

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Bright Eyes canceled upcoming shows citing Conor Oberst’s voice troubles

On September 18, Bright Eyes announced via Instagram that they were canceling their upcoming concerts due to frontman Conor Oberst experiencing vocal issues.

"We're heartbroken to announce that our upcoming record release shows have been canceled. The warm-up shows we played earlier this week resulted in Conor losing his voice and, on the advice of doctors, we've made the difficult but sensible decision to prioritize rest and recuperation for the remainder of the month," the caption read.

The post listed the canceled shows in New York, Chicago, and Omaha, which were scheduled for September 19, 21, and 22, respectively.

“We’re working hard to reschedule these dates and will keep you updated as soon as we have more info. In the meantime, refunds will be available at the point of purchase… Thank you for your understanding, love, and support. Can’t wait to see you all soon,” it read.

Despite their concert cancellations, Bright Eyes stated that their newest album, Five Dice, All Threes, will be released on Friday, September 20. Notably, the band had earlier announced that they would tour across North America to promote their latest album from September 2024 to April 2025.