Stryper singer Michael Sweet has reacted to online criticism surrounding Jon Bon Jovi’s comeback. He shared his thoughts in a video posted on Facebook.
Sweet addressed the wave of contradictory fan reactions to Bon Jovi’s Madison Square Garden shows. These performances marked Jon Bon Jovi’s return to the stage following a break caused by vocal cord surgery in 2022.
“So I’m reading many comments online. Like these: First night – ‘He’s back! I knew he could do it!! Greatest comeback ever!! Sounds like he did 40 years ago!!’ Last night – ‘He’s done! It’s over! He can’t sing anymore! I knew it wouldn’t last!'” Sweet said.
Sweet went on to criticize the culture of negativity surrounding musicians on social media.
“This is the horror of the internet. Anything can be posted, anything can be said and musicians are under the scrutiny of people who have nothing better to do than to gossip, tear apart and try to destroy legends. Bon Jovi is a legend,” he continued.
Rather than simply criticizing, Sweet offered fans two clear paths forward.
“Here are two simple options: 1 – Buy a ticket and go to the show without expectations. Just enjoy the fact that he’s alive and still performing. Then keep it to yourself. Enjoy the moment and the memories. Don’t post negative stuff. Be nice. Be respectful. 2 – Buy a ticket (knowing that it’s 40 some odd years later and it’s not going to be the same) and complain about everything regarding the show. Then go online and post nasty comments (that Jon most likely will see and take to heart), and disrespect the voice and the music that helped to shape our lives,” Sweet said.
“I choose 1. Moral of the story – Be nice,” he concluded.
Sweet’s comments come as Jon Bon Jovi continues his highly anticipated return to performing following his 2022 vocal cord surgery. The recovery was far from straightforward and tested the frontman’s resolve over several years.
The surgery addressed a serious deterioration in Bon Jovi’s vocal cords. One cord had grown as thick as his thumb while the other had shrunk to the thickness of his pinky, creating a severe imbalance that made singing increasingly difficult. The procedure involved an implant to rebuild the atrophying cord. Bon Jovi then spent years in rehabilitation before feeling ready to perform again.
The road back was uncertain enough that Bon Jovi himself once doubted whether he would ever tour again. As recently as early 2024, he acknowledged he was still recovering and could not guarantee his ability to perform live in support of the band’s album Forever. The possibility of never returning to the stage was something he had to genuinely confront.
By 2026, however, the picture had changed significantly. Bon Jovi declared himself fully recovered and announced an extensive touring schedule. This included a nine-night residency at Madison Square Garden and a run of UK and Ireland stadium shows. The Madison Square Garden dates represent the centerpiece of what has been widely described as one of rock’s most emotional comebacks in recent memory.
The scale of the comeback makes the online criticism Sweet referenced all the more pointed. Bon Jovi spent three years in rehabilitation to reach this point. Sweet’s message — to appreciate the moment rather than tear it apart — carries added weight given everything the frontman endured to get back on stage.
