New Kid quits mid-show: Jordan Knight quits show after having anxiety attack

NKOTB member Jordan Knight was reported to have suddenly walked off the stage during the New Kid's New York City show leaving fans shocked, and disappointed. The Epoch Times reported on Sunday, April 7 that Knight walked off the stage in the middle of a concert in NYC on April 4, after experiencing a major anxiety attack during the live show.

Jordan Knight,42, has a history of panic attacks and social anxiety, in fact, the New Kids on the Block member's attacks became so severe during the 1990s that he was forced to leave the group in order to seek treatment.

“From 1994 to 1997, I did nothing,” Knight said. “I slept, and slept, and slept. If I was awake, I had to deal with things, I had to do things. In order to avoid that, I would just stay in bed.”

Jordan Knight revealed that the more New Kids on the Block (NKTB) grew in popularity, “the more I just felt like I was trapped.”

Knight revealed during a 2001 interview with Oprah Winfrey, that he kept his anxiety issues to himself and finally decided to consult a doctor in 1997.

“You don’t want to admit that something is—not wrong with you—but something is different.”

Winfrey stated during the show's segment that about 19 million Americans suffer from panic attacks. According to National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) data from 2010, 6.8 percent of adult Americans suffer from social phobia. About six million suffer from full-blown panic disorder, according to NIMH, but many more suffer panic attacks.

Jordan Knight described the feeling to Oprah: “[It's like] when someone jumps out at you and screams, and that adrenaline just goes through your body.”

Having that adrenaline coursing through his body regularly is exhausting, Knight said.

Believing that he had his anxiety issues under control the New Kids on the Block hit the stage on Thursday to an arena of screaming fans.The now aging boy band was performing a mix of their old hits from the late '80s and early '90s, along with music from their new album, "10," when concert goers began to notice that Jordan Knight seemed out of place.

HollywoodLife.com's Emily Longeretta was in the front row, and wrote on the celebrity website that Knight "seemed out of it. While the men started their choreographed dances, Jonathan stood uncomfortably in the background -- actually just standing and texting on his phone during the performance."

New Kids members including Knight's brother, Jonathan, Danny Wood, Joey McIntyre and Donnie Wahlberg all put their arms around him for support as Jordan Knight exited the stage.

The rest of the NKOTB members returned to continue singing as fans chanted for Knight's return, but he never came back.

Jordan Knight posted an apology to New Kid fans via Twitter after the April 4 performance, and band members assured fans Knight was fine afterward, according to Us Magazine.

The group, referred to as NKOTB, announced in January 2013 that they've joined forces with Boyz II Men (squee!) and 98 Degrees (OMG!) for "The Package Tour."

98 Degrees member Nick Lachey said in a statement that fans can certainly expect to reminisce with old hits. “We are really excited to get back on the road together and tour with our friends in NKOTB and Boyz II Men," Lachey said. "Looking forward to playing our hits and trying out some of our new tracks too."

The tour will run from May 31 through July 13, kicking off in Uncasville, Connecticut, and ending in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The "Package Tour" will stop through Boston, MA; Toronto, ON; Cleveland, OH; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia, PA; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; and Las Vegas, NV, along the way.

What do you think about New Kid Jordan Knight quitting mid-show in New York, do you think he will return to the tour?