Bruno Mars continues his running gag about gambling debts after a surprise BLACKPINK concert appearance

Bruno Mars surprised fans at BLACKPINK’s DEADLINE World Tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 13, where he performed APT. with BLACKPINK member Rosé. The unexpected appearance delighted concert-goers and added another memorable moment to the world tour.

According to People, the 16-time Grammy winner has been making light of rumors about his alleged gambling problems that surfaced earlier this year. These rumors, which claimed he had accumulated over $50 million in gambling debt during his Las Vegas residency, were strongly denied by MGM Resorts International, though the initial claims about his debt were detailed and widely reported.

Following his BLACKPINK appearance, Mars posted a video on Instagram showing him running onstage amid falling confetti, writing “Almost out of debt BehhhhhBehhhhh!!! Preciate You ROSAAAAYYYYYY!!!! 🥳.” This continues his pattern of playfully addressing the gambling debt rumors through social media.

MGM Resorts firmly denies all gambling debt allegations

MGM Resorts International has consistently supported Mars and denied all allegations about his supposed gambling debts. The company released a statement to PEOPLE magazine, emphasizing their strong partnership with the singer and explicitly stating that “he has no debt with MGM.”

This isn’t the first time Mars has joked about the alleged debt situation. In January, when Spotify announced that he had become the first artist to reach 150 million monthly listeners, Mars responded by saying, ‘Keep streaming! I’ll be out of debt in no time!’ in what fans called a ‘very unserious’ response.

When asked about the gambling rumors in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal last June, Mars embraced the narrative with humor, saying he loved “the lore that I am a Las Vegas lounge singer in debt to the mob.”

The 24K Magic singer continues to maintain a successful relationship with MGM Resorts. His residency at Park MGM in Las Vegas, which was originally scheduled to end in August 2023, has been extended multiple times. Mars is now set to perform at Dolby Live at Park MGM on select dates in August and September 2025, showing that the partnership remains strong despite the rumors.