The Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons crooner, 90, went viral on social media this past week, sparking concern among fans over some of his recent performances.
In a statement shared exclusively with PEOPLE on Monday, Sept. 30, Valli said: "I know there has been a lot of stuff on the internet about me lately so I wanted to clear the air. 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. 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."
Valli added: "How do we do the show?! 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....everything. 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."
The statement concluded, "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. Chasing the music."
The buzz began when videos from recent shows began circulating on TikTok. In one video, Valli appears behind in the choreography during his hit "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)." "He needs to rest!" one viewer commented on the post, while another worried commenter called the situation "very sad."
Elsewhere, in a clip of a separate performance of "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye)," Valli appears to miss some of the lyrics, prompting speculation of lip syncing. One fan commented, "He looks exhausted." Another added: "I really want someone to check on him."
Valli, who celebrated his 90th birthday in May, keeps an active performance schedule. He's currently scheduled to tour through April 2025 and has also played Las Vegas residencies in recent years.
Amid the social media buzz, rocker Lenny Kravitz, 60, shared a selfie with Valli on Sunday, Sept. 29, writing: "Just ran into the legendary Frankie Valli at the airport. Nothing but respect for you sir. Endless hits and still touring at 90 years young. Love !"
The TikTok controversy comes four months after Valli's restraining order against his son Francesco, 36, was made permanent for three years.
After a hearing in Los Angeles on April 29, a judge signed off on an order of protection for Frankie and his son Emilio against Francesco, who must not contact either Valli or Emilio and must stay at least 100 yards away from their homes and workplaces.
Emilio, 29, previously said in documents obtained by PEOPLE that he and Frankie feared for their safety after Francesco attempted to forcibly enter his famous father's property in April. The filing said that while waiting for law enforcement to arrive after the attempted break-in, Francesco "repeatedly physically threatened to harm or kill" both Frankie and Emilio, something the family said was "part of a pattern for the past several months."
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