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Megan Thee Stallion pulls out of Moulin Rouge show

Georgia Levy-CollinsBBC Newsbeat
News imageGetty Images Megan is wearing a red cropped jacket, a black sparkly leotard with silver stripes. She is wearing fishnet tights and black knee high boots. She is holding a black cane and smiling a the crowd. She is on stage, behind her is gold and red decorations. To her left is other members of the cast, a man in a suit and top had and a man in all black. Getty Images
Megan Thee Stallion made her Broadway debut in Moulin Rouge! The Musical in March

Megan Thee Stallion has quit her role in Moulin Rouge! The Musical almost three weeks early.

The rapper was due to play Zidler in the Broadway stage show until 17 May, but announced on Instagram her last show at New York's Al Hirschfeld Theatre would now be 1 May.

Grammy award winner Megan, 31, was rushed to hospital at the end of March during a performance, and last week revealed she had split from basketball player Klay Thompson.

Announcing her departure, Megan said: "It's been such an honor to be part of thee Moulin Rouge family."

The star did not give a reason for her early exit, but US media have linked it to her public break-up with NBA star Thompson.

She appeared to accuse him of cheating in an Instagram stories post which is no longer visible on the site.

Thompson, 36, has not yet responded publicly, but BBC Newsbeat has approached him for comment.

Fans have also speculated that Megan's earlier hospital visit during the show's run may have been a factor.

After abandoning her performance in March, she wrote: "I thought I was gonna faint on stage, I really tried to push through my performance but I just couldn't."

She said she had been "running on empty, and my body finally said enough. It honestly scared me".

Newsbeat has also approached Megan's team for clarification on her reasons for leaving Moulin Rouge.

News imageGetty Images Megan is singing into a mic surrounded by eight dancers wearing black suits and top hats. She is wearing a red cropped jacket, a black sparkly leotard with silver stripes, fishnet tights and black knee high boots.Getty Images
Megan Thee Stallion is best-known for hits including Savage and Body

Megan's performance as the first woman to play the character of nightclub boss Zidler has received strong reviews and boosted interest in the show.

According to Rolling Stone Magazine, crowds have gathered outside the theatre hoping to catch a glimpse of the star, and fans have travelled from across the US to see her in the show.

Megan, real name Megan Pete, gained a following with her 2017 debut EP Make It Hot.

She later made it into the Billboard Hot 100 with Hot Girl Summer in 2019, before breaking into the mainstream with 2020 number one Savage.

The track won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2021.

Megan was also involved in a high-profile 2022 court case with ex-partner Tory Lanez.

He was eventually sentenced to 10 years after being found guilty of shooting her in the foot.

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