Bruno Mars has jokingly addressed the rumour that he has a $50 million (£40 million) gambling debt.
It was reported early last year that the Locked Out of Heaven star had racked up over $50 million in gambling debt at the Park MGM Las Vegas, where he has a long-running residency.
On Tuesday, Bruno joked about the rumour to celebrate the fact that he was the first artist to reach 150 million monthly listeners in Spotify history.
Sharing the announcement on his Instagram Stories, he joked, "KEEP STREAMING! I'll be out of debt in no time," adding a dancing emoji.
The Uptown Funk hitmaker previously alluded to the rumours last year when he reposted a TikTok video of someone dancing to his Lady Gaga collaboration Die With a Smile alongside the caption, "Lady Gaga on her way to get Bruno Mars out of debt."
A spokesperson for MGM Resorts International shut down the speculation at the time, saying, "MGM and Bruno's partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect. Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM. Together, we are excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences for our guests."
In June 2024, Bruno was asked if he wanted to address the rumours during an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
He replied, "Absolutely not! I love the lore that I am a Las Vegas lounge singer in debt to the mob. I can work with that."
Bruno kicked off his residency at Park MGM in 2016 and has performed at the resort every year since, with substantial stints in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Earlier this week, it was announced that he will return for seven new shows in May and June.
