Not many artists can draw a crowd at 90 years old like Frankie Valli can.
But after videos of his recent performances went viral on social media, some people in that crowd are growing concerned for Valli’s physical health and well-being after the singer appeared frail on stage.
On Sept. 30, the Four Seasons frontman addressed those concerns in an exclusive statement shared by PEOPLE, in which he emphasized that no one is forcing him to perform and he doesn’t plan to stop.
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“I know there has been a lot of stuff on the internet about me lately so I wanted to clear the air,” he wrote.
“I get a chuckle from the comments wondering if someone forcing me to go on stage. Nobody has ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do,” he added, referencing a specific concern from certain fans.
The speculation began on Aug. 3 when a fan posted a snippet of Valli’s performance on social media.
Whoever keeps sending Frankie Valli out on stage at this point is committing elder abuse. pic.twitter.com/GZisf1Bxw6
— kereD (@i__m__kered) September 29, 2024
More recent videos show the crooner missing lyrics to his most popular songs, struggling to keep up with the choreography, and looking disengaged on stage.
“Someone connect me to the Vegas loanshark making Frankie do this. I’ll buy his debt so the poor man can rest,” one fan wrote on X, while another fan urged the singer to retire because it’s “hard to watch.”
Valli has no plans of stopping anytime soon
Valli went on to address some of the speculation and defend the integrity of his performances.
“The Four Seasons sound was always about layering vocals and instruments. We use our 60 years of experience so we sound like the records. I sing, I have singers who sing, great arrangements,” he said.
Valli, who turned 90 years old on May 3, stays busier than most artists half of his age. When he’s not performing at a Las Vegas residency, he’s still touring the country with his unique, one-of-a-kind sound.
“I am blessed to be 90 years old and still be doing what I love to do and as long as I am able, and audiences want to come see me, I am going to be out there performing as I always,” he told PEOPLE.
He emphasized that he loves what he does and knows he and his band “put on a great show because our fans are still coming out in force and the show still rocks.”
Valli to continue touring into April 2025
On tour, the band performs some of their greatest hits of all time, including “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and more.
“I plan to be doing shows as long as I can, delivering that great Four Seasons sound. Like that line in Jersey Boys, I’m like that bunny on TV, that just keeps going and going and going,” Valli told PEOPLE.
The buzz on social media adds to what has already been an eventful year for Valli. In addition to turning 90, the star also received the 2,780th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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He also celebrated his one-year wedding anniversary to Jackie Jacobs on June 26, had to miss a few shows in August due to COVID, and was granted a three-year restraining order from his son in April.
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