(KTLA) – Legendary pop singer Frankie Valli says his choice to continue performing into his 90s is his own, despite concerns about possible elder abuse that stem from viral videos of the singer’s recent shows.
In a statement provided to People, the frontman for the Four Seasons said he considers himself “blessed” to be able to take the stage at the age of 90, saying he plans to perform “as long as I am able.”
The response comes amid growing concerns of longtime fans and first-time listeners who have reacted to recent performances of the singer in which he’s been described as lethargic or disoriented and even, a cardinal sin for vocalists, lip-syncing.
Videos shared to social media show Valli, real name Francesco Castelluccio, performing on stage with a group of background singers, his unmistakable tenor as loud and powerful as it’s ever been, despite his lips barely moving.
The videos, shared primarily to TikTok, have led to jokes about Valli’s appearance, age and mental capacity, with some going as far as to wonder if he were being trotted out on stage against his will.
On Monday, the “Sherry” and “Walk Like a Man” singer refuted those claims.
“I know there has been a lot of stuff on the internet about me lately so I wanted to clear the air,” the statement reads in part. “I get a chuckle from the comments wondering if someone [is] forcing me to go on stage. Nobody has ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do.”
Many social media commentators have described Valli as looking frail, which is not unheard of for a 90-year-old who’s been performing for the better part of seven decades.
But Valli insists that he’s still going strong and doesn’t plan to stop performing as long as he can and as people keep coming to see him.
“I absolutely love what I do. And I know we put on a great show because our fans are still coming out in force and the show still rocks,” Vallie continued, adding that, despite being long in the tooth, he feels like “that bunny on TV, that just keeps going and going and going. Chasing the music.”
Valli still has a full slate of upcoming shows that will see him crisscrossing the nation, including five in Southern California taking place in November.