Noel Gallagher has faced criticism after confirming former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan as the support act for his upcoming arena tour.
The ex-Oasis musician announced a series of concerns of his band, Noel Gallagher and The Flying Birds to promote the band's new album, Council Skies, much to the delight of his fans. Excitement over the news has been somewhat blighted, however, over the confirmation that the Kasabian musician would be joining the December dates of the tour. Meighan was arrested in July 2020 after assaulting his then-fiancée and now wife, Vikki Ager, within 24 hours of his shocking departure from the English rock band.
He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service after pleading guilty and has since completed rehab treatment for his alcohol addiction and 'behavioural issues'. In July 2021, he and Vikki married in an intimate ceremony that aligned with COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
Noel has received a wave of backlash in response to the news, with many folks taking to social media to criticize the Champagne Supernova singer for giving Meighan such a huge platform.
"What on earth is he doing having Tom Meighan as his support? The guy tw*tted his miss ffs and got kicked out of Kasabian for it," one unimpressed fan wrote, while another said, "Is domestic abuse the forgivable crime? Violence against women fine if you're famous? I struggle to get it."
Roy Keane brutally put Kasabian star in his place during charity football matchOthers were so outraged that they have decided to skip the concert altogether in protest.
"Selling one standing ticket for Noel Gallagher in Glasgow!! I’m so f**king angry that he’s allowing Tom Meighan be his support!" one unimpressed fan wrote, shortly after another disgusted person posted, "Put my ticket up for sale! Tom Meighan is absolutely despicable & disappointed Noel would have someone like him as his support."
Noel has voiced his admiration for his fellow indie rockstar in the past, previously admitting he would accept an invitation to join Kasabian if he was ever to be invited. Despite acknowledging that the Oasis icon was 'f**king brilliant', however, Meighan rejected any rumours of a collaboration in 2011.
"No, he’d dictate everything too much," the dad-of-one admitted. "Seriously, he would have been fucking brilliant, but he has his own thing going on now."
Speaking about his assault of Ager in October 2020, Meighan said: "We had too much to drink. I regret everything that happened that night – what I can remember of it."
He also called the incident "horrific" before adding. "I love my partner to pieces. I was at a boiling point in my life – I didn’t know where things were heading. I was drowning myself with drink because of my problems and things going on around me. We had a fight and I took the brunt for it. I was fully responsible for what happened but we love each other and we’re getting over it."