- Ticketmaster is canceling tickets for Ariana Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine” tour, citing reviews for “suspicious activity” to combat scalpers.
- The move has inadvertently affected legitimate fans, sparking widespread outrage and confusion online.
- Ariana Grande had previously acknowledged the reseller issue, promising her team was working on a solution to get tickets into the hands of real fans.
- The controversy unfolds as Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, face a major lawsuit from the FTC over alleged illegal resale tactics.
Fan Excitement Turns to Frustration
The joy many Ariana Grande fans felt after securing tickets to her first tour since 2018 has quickly turned into a nightmare. After a grueling sales process marked by long digital queues and instantly sold-out dates, a new problem has emerged: surprise ticket cancellations from Ticketmaster, leaving many wondering if they’ll be able to see the “Eternal Sunshine” tour after all.
Ticketmaster’s War on Scalpers Catches Fans in the Crossfire
In a statement, Ticketmaster confirmed it had partnered with the tour to review all ticket purchases. The company explained that orders flagged for suspicious activity were being canceled as part of an effort to thwart scalpers who snatched up tickets for resale at inflated prices. This follows Grande’s own statement on Instagram in early October, where she expressed she was “incredibly bothered” by resellers and was fighting to get more tickets into the hands of her fans.
However, the crackdown has seemingly backfired, with numerous legitimate concertgoers reporting their valid orders were voided. The cancellations have sparked a firestorm on social media, with fans directing their anger at Ticketmaster.
All my friends tickets got cancelled… Ticketmaster and team Ariana are so useless. You're removing tickets from real fans. You should have canceled the tickets that are listed for sale… Not the ones already bought.
— lea (@leasweetener) October 20, 2025
The fact that real fans tickets are being canceled is honestly the most disappointing thing to ever happen. We understand that you are trying to combat the issue of resellers and scalpers, which we appreciate, but if this is going to be at the expense of REAL fan tickets being voided… There must be another method.
— AG Tickets (@agtickets) October 21, 2025
Resale Markets and Legal Troubles
The situation is further complicated by the involvement of resale marketplaces. StubHub acknowledged that some valid orders on its platform were canceled by Ticketmaster, leaving their customers frustrated. A spokesperson reiterated that all StubHub orders are covered by their FanProtect Guarantee and urged Ticketmaster to “reinstate valid tickets and adopt transfer policies that put fans first.”
This all comes at a time of intense legal scrutiny for Ticketmaster. In September, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against the ticketing giant and its parent company, Live Nation, for “illegal ticket resale tactics.” In response, Ticketmaster has announced it will close its TradeDesk platform for ticket brokers and bar users from holding multiple accounts.
What to Do If Your Tickets Were Canceled
Ticketmaster stated that fans who felt their tickets were wrongly canceled were given a chance to resolve the issue through a security check. According to reports, a deadline of October 20 was set for appeals, after which the tickets were permanently voided. Despite the controversy, tickets for the tour remain available, though often at significantly higher prices on both primary and secondary markets.
Image Referance: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/ariana-grande-tour-tickets-getting-200453144.html