The Sean Paul Gig in Dublin Was a Hot Mess – Here’s What Happened

Late. Short. Kinda Lifeless. Here’s what went down at the 3Arena.

What do you get when you mix one of the most iconic reggae and dance stars of the 2000s, a sold-out crowd, and a whole lot of waiting around? Apparently… not much.

Sean Paul’s highly anticipated show at Dublin’s 3Arena last night had all the making of a banger, a hyped up crowd, iconic early 2000s hits, and a dancehall legend ready to bring the heat (or so we thought).

But instead of the high-energy night fans were expecting, the gig quickly unravelled into a chaotic mess of delays, confusion, fights (yes, really), and disappointment. And judging by the reactions online and in the arena? Fans were not impressed.

Where was he?

The doors opened, people were ready, the vibes were immaculate, but Sean Paul? Nowhere to be seen. He didn’t take stage until after 10.30pm, over an hour later than expected (flashbacks to Nicki Minaj). At that point, even the most loyal fans were checking their watches and calculating if they could make the last Luas home.

@michelleobrien88Half 10 in Dublin and Sean Paul still not on stage !!!! Absolutely disgraceful 82euro for ticket and no where to be seen yet!!!!!♬ original sound – 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗣𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗧𝘃 – user21583986709

Blink and you missed it

Once he finally showed up, you’d think there would be apologies and a high-energy, ‘Get Busy’ dance party to make up for the delay. But nope, his set lasted around 45 minutes, finishing up just after 11pm. Not ideal for anyone who shelled out around €90 for tickets.

And while he did roll out some of his hits like ‘Temperature’ and ‘Baby Boy’, the overall performance felt rushed and some fans even said he was running away from the beat. It really was that bad.

@shaunasnell worst concert ever – waste of €90 ✋🏻 #seanpaul #seanpauldublin #seanpaul3arena #3arena #fyp ♬ original sound – Sháuna

Ashanti kinda stole the show…

Before the chaos that ensued, Ashanti delivered a slick, polished opening set that reminded everyone why she’s still that girl. So when Sean Paul finally arrived, the vibe was already a bit off, and unfortunately, it never really picked back up.

@trishacleary She was AMAZING 🙏🖤 @ASHANTI #seanpaulconcert #seanpaul #fyp #3arenadublin #ashanti ♬ original sound – Trisha Cleary 🧚🏼‍♂️

Fans weren’t holding back

Let’s just say the internet had thoughts. From “I waited hours for that?” to “He barely said two words to the crowd,” social media quickly became a support group for the disappointed gig goers.

Fans were so furious about the whole thing, they’ve been flooding Ticketmaster with refund requests and tagging MCD Productions in furious posts online.

Between steep ticket prices and the short, delayed set, plenty of concertgoers are demanding answers, and some kind of compensation. Let’s just say that the comment sections are not for the faint hearted.

There was also a fair bit of confusion over why there was no explanation or apology for the delay. Even a quick “Dublin, I’m sorry!” would’ve gone a long way.

@paulyyteee Most diabolical concert.. @Sean Paul @ASHANTI @3ArenaDublin #fyp #foryoupagе #3arena #seanpaul #seanpauldublin #ashanti #seanpaultour ♬ original sound – Paulina Kurganovaite

Final thoughts?

Sean Paul is a legend, no one’s denying that. But this show just didn’t deliver. Late start, short set, low energy. And with ticket prices being what they are, fans were hoping for more than a glorified warm-up act.

Let’s hope the next time he hits Irish shores, it’s with a bit more punctuality… and maybe a few extra songs.

Words by Emilia Cercel