Concert abuse in the 2020s

Last updated

Concert abuse is a phenomenon attributed to the loss of concert etiquette between the audience and the performer. It has a long history, but experienced a resurgence in the 2020s decade after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns were lifted and audiences began to return and attend live concerts again. After social distancing began to dissipate in 2021, multiple performing artists became the victims of fan misbehaviour.

Contents

Incidents include the cancellation of a concert and loss of ten lives in two separate events in October and November 2021 at the NRG Arena. Bad fan behaviour has interfered with the performances of artists such as Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, the Killers, Miley Cyrus, Rubén Albarrán, Gerard Way, Maroon 5, Mac DeMarco, and Rosalía, among others. Artists have criticised fans for their lack of concert etiquette which endangers performers. Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell, Jason Derulo, Charlie Puth, Kelly Hansen, Tim McGraw, Chappell Roan, and John Mayer have all condemned the behaviour.

The occupational hazards of performing on stage have been known since at least the 1760s, with historical spikes increasing in the 1950s. The post-pandemic decline in concert etiquette and rise in concert abuse in the 2020s is variously attributed to the effects of lockdowns, social media, misogyny, status symbolification, and artists' own on-stage behaviour.

Background

Concert audiences have a long history of abuse beginning in at least 1763, when an Artaxerxes audience revolted at the withdrawal of half-price tickets for those who came to the theatre after the main play to see the after-piece. [1] In the 1840s, fans of Hungarian composer Franz Liszt engaged in outrageous behavior known as Lisztomania, which was considered a real contagious medical condition at the time. [2] Audience misbehaviour increased sharply in the 1950s. [3] After George Harrison said that his favourite sweet was jelly babies, audiences threw jelly beans at his band the Beatles; [4] similarly, from 1968 onwards, Tom Jones' audiences threw underwear at him on stage. [5] In 1982, a fan threw a live bat at Ozzy Osbourne on stage, which he, believing it to be made out of rubber, bit the head off of. [6]

Many artists have suffered injury while performing. In 2004, David Bowie had to pause a show after a projectile lollipop hit his eye, [7] and in a separate incident, Dimebag Darrell was killed on-stage by an armed fan. [3] In 2005, Pierre Bouvier was hospitalized after receiving a bottle to the eye at an Ovation Music Festival concert, prompting his band Simple Plan to cancel an appearance at ReAct Now: Music & Relief, [8] and the following year, Brendon Urie was bruised and knocked out by a bottle at Reading Festival, resuming "The Only Difference Between Suicide and Martyrdom Is Press Coverage" after resuming consciousness. [9] In 2010, Tila Tequila received a cut to the face that drew blood while performing at Gathering of the Juggalos, and later had the windows of her SUV smashed by an angry mob. [10] In May 2013, Toots Hibbert commenced a three-year break after developing anxiety, memory loss, headaches, dizziness, enochlophobia, and stage fright after a bottle hit him in the head at an American festival performance, [11] for which the thrower was imprisoned for six months; [12] and in 2016, Christina Grimmie was killed after a concert. [3]

Some artists made interacting with projectiles part of their act. Harry Styles, who had previously had tampons thrown at him while a member of One Direction, [13] and who slipped on a splattered kiwifruit at a November 2017 Hammersmith Apollo concert (which caused a branch of Asda in Hulme to ban sales of kiwifruit to under 25s), [14] would wear feather boas and cowboy hats and wave pride flags thrown by audience members. [13] Meanwhile, artists such as Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish would take fans' phones mid-concert and film themselves. [15]

Incidents

2021

After COVID-19 pandemic restrictions eased, live music attendance increased, including some first-time attendees. [16] [17] In October 2021, fans breaching security barriers outside NRG Arena caused a Playboi Carti concert to be cancelled, [18] and on 5 November, at the same venue, fans surged toward the stage during Travis Scott's set, squeezing people so tightly together that they could not breathe or move their arms, resulting in ten deaths. [19]

Dolls of the Dr. Simi character have been thrown at various artists. Farmacias Similares, Mazatlan.jpg
Dolls of the Dr. Simi character have been thrown at various artists.

In November 2021, a concertgoer at that year's Corona Capital festival passed a Dr. Simi doll through the crowd after seeing Aurora accept a bouquet of flowers and a card from a fan, a common custom amongst Mexican concertgoers. After she hugged the doll, the exchange went viral, prompting others to follow suit. Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, the Killers, Miley Cyrus, Rubén Albarrán, Gerard Way, Maroon 5, Mac DeMarco, and Rosalía had dolls thrown at them over the following fifteen months. Most were grateful, with Rosalía specifically requesting them, although Albarrán responded by biting its head off, [20] and Gaga's fan base responded to a doll hitting her in the head with criticism for the launcher. [21]

2022

In March 2022, videos of concertgoers sexually harassing Clairo during her performances of "Blouse" were posted online, shortly after which she acquired a sinus infection and took the opportunity to take a break from performing in general, necessitating the rescheduling of several dates of her Sling Tour. [22] In July, Kid Cudi ended a Rolling Loud Miami concert early after being bottled. [23] In August, Harry Styles, a vegetarian, was hit by a flying chicken nugget at Madison Square Garden, prompting him to ask who threw it. [24] He would later be hit in the testicles by a flying object in October 2022, [25] attacked with Skittles the following month, [26] and attacked with a rose in July 2023. [27] In October 2022, Rosalía was hit in the face by a flying bouquet of roses, [28] and later that month, [17] Steve Lacy smashed an iPhone thrown at him. [15] The following month, Piri & Tommy, who decorated their Froge.tour set with their signature frog decorations, [29] had them stolen after a Leeds gig. [30]

In December, Azealia Banks refused to play further concerts in Australia after having a bottle thrown at her, [31] and Kehlani reported that a fan had sexually assaulted her as she left a concert. [32] A crowd crush at an Asake concert at Brixton Academy caused the death of two concertgoers. [33] Initially blamed on a ticketless mob, the crush was determined to be the result of security failures. In response, Lambeth London Borough Council closed the site, [34] causing 44 acts to have to find alternative sites for their concerts. [35]

2023

In April 2023, Kane Brown's was hit in the testicles by an expensive projectile cowboy boot at an Intrust Bank Arena concert, shortly after he sung the line "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time" from his feature on Marshmello's "One Thing Right". Brown signed the boot and returned it to the audience member. [36]

On 17 June 2023, an active Joint Base Lewis–McChord member killed two people after taking mushrooms at that year's Beyond Wonderland festival. [37] The following day, a New Jersey man threw his cell phone at Bebe Rexha while she was performing her Best F*n Night of my Life Tour at Pier 17 in South Street Seaport, giving her a black eye and laceration. The assailant was arrested, charged, and arraigned for the attack. [38] Two days later, a man jumped on stage and slapped Ava Max at a Fonda Theatre "On Tour (Finally)" concert, [39] prompting the show's planned meet and greet to be delayed by an hour. [40] She later revealed that the inside of her eye was scratched, and that the perpetrator would not be allowed at any of her other shows. [41] On 24 June, Sexyy Red ended her performance at that year's Summer Smash festival early after having objects thrown at her; six days later, she would chastise an audience at Detroit's Wild Mustang Gentleman's Club for throwing money at her. [42]

On 27 June 2023, on the first day of a two-day leg at BST Hyde Park, P!nk received a wheel of Brie, and the day after received the ashes of a fan's dead mother. [43] Also on 28 June 2023, during the Idaho Botanical Garden leg of her Heartfelt tour, Kelsea Ballerini had a bracelet thrown at her during her, triggering her PTSD, and prompting her to go off stage and chastise the audience on her return. [44]

On 1 July 2023, while performing at Lollapalooza in Sweden, a fan threw a fleshlight at Lil Nas X, leading him to quip "Who threw they pussy on stage?" and change his Twitter name to "Pussy" for the whole of 3 July. [45]

On 5 July 2023, Drake had a phone thrown at him during his performance of Ginuwine's "So Anxious", during the United Center leg of his It's All a Blur Tour; [46] throughout the tour, videos of Drake getting pelted with bras, and occasionally shoes and hats, surfaced on social media, prompting him to express deep disappointment at not having them thrown at a Montreal concert. [47] A 36G bra thrown at him by a TikTok er prompted the wearer to be offered an appearance in Playboy . [48] By 12 August, bra-throwing had become such a regular occurrence at his concerts that he had to request attenders of that day's Show Court Arena concert not to, because his son, five years old at the time, was in the audience. [49] The Game also had bras thrown at him, and 50 Cent expressed jealousy that he was not thrown bras. [50] Drake also had a lemon and mint flavour electronic cigarette thrown at him on 20 July, prompting him to tell the audience member to do some "real life evaluating", [51] a woman's purse thrown at him on 26 July, [52] and one of his own poetry books thrown at him on 19 August, which he caught, and threatened that he would have "had to beat [the] ass" of the perpetrator had it hit him. [53]

On 7 and 8 July 2023, Taylor Swift performed at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City as part of her Eras Tour. [54] Concertgoers making and exchanging themed friendship bracelets were a trend at the tour due to the lyrics of Swift's song "You're on Your Own, Kid". [55] While Swift was leaving the stadium after the show, some fans threw friendship bracelets at her, with one of them almost hitting Swift in the face, prompting her to duck, and for her security guards to scold the audiencegoer responsible. [56] On 9 July, Latto had an object thrown at her, prompting her to threaten the concertgoer responsible with having their "ass beat", [57] and on 29 July 2023, Roméo Elvis – who had taken a break from performing after being accused of unwanted touching – was pelted with stones at an Ecaussystème  [ fr ] festival concert, prompting him to call his audience "junkyard dogs" and tell them to "aim better". [58]

Also on 29 July 2023, in an incident caught on camera from multiple angles by several fans, [59] Cardi B had water thrown at her face. Both she and her DJ had earlier requested that the audience "splash her pussy". [4] She reacted to having water thrown at her by launching her microphone at the audience, prompting security to surround the perpetrator and retrieve it. The fact that her voice could still be heard caused her to face allegations of lip synching; in addition, a concertgoer later reported her for battery, [59] a claim assessed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department but dropped for lack of evidence. [60] The microphone was later auctioned by the owner of an audio equipment hire company, raising $99,900. [61]

On 13 August, a fan threw her bra at Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers at a Yankee Stadium Jonas Brothers Five Albums. One Night. The World Tour concert. [62] He would later have a wristband thrown at him at a Toronto concert [63] on 19 August, [64] prompting him to warn the thrower not to do that again, [63] and several bracelets thrown at him on 11 September, prompting him to plead the audience to stop. [65] On 31 August, at a Don Juan World Tour concert at Sacramento, California, Maluma caught a fan's projectile crutch [66] and grinded on it, [67] and on 21 September, a fan threw a phone at him, prompting him to break off from his performance to chastise the perpetrator. [68]

On 12 November, at an Eras Tour concert in Buenos Aires, Taylor Swift asked fans to not throw objects on stage after one landed next to her piano. [69]

2024

On 20 April, as rapper Nicki Minaj was performing in Detroit as part of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour, an object was thrown at her; Minaj blocked the object with her hand, then picked it up and threw it back into the audience. [70]

Causes

The abuse has been attributed to various causes. Writing in December 2022, Rachel Soloff of The Pitt News suggested that, having engaged with them via social media and Instagram Q&As, "fans may see these musicians as a peer rather than an artist who they don’t actually know", which led them to "believe that because they support an artist, they have to do exactly what the fans want and indulge their stupidity". She also blamed the status symbolification of attending concerts caused by "the exorbitant pricing of concert tickets", and singled out Ticketmaster and Bruce Springsteen for criticism. [71] Writing in January 2023, Serena Smith of Dazed argued that new concert attendees did not know how to behave, and asserted that some fans had main character syndrome, while Cardiff University lecturer Dr. Lucy Bennett put forward the idea that fans might be forming parasocial relationships with their favourite artists, which could explain part of the problem. [17]

Writing in February 2023, Madison Heydari of The Daily Reveille noted that the abuse was part of a decline in the general concert experience. The rise of the popularity of TikTok during the pandemic meant, Heydari explained, that some fans retained their "desire to video everything in hopes of capturing the perfect moment". Heydari argues that this fear of missing out (FOMO) made every aspect of attending concerts a competitive space, from purchasing tickets to finding the right clothing to wear. She also observed that at some concerts, fans would camp out for days and even weeks before the show. Once the concert began, the first five rows of concertgoers were often motionless to facilitate filming for posting on social media. [72]

Some fans attributed the behavior to artists taking fans' phones mid-performance and filming themselves, with impatient fans wanting to be part of the action. Others blamed artists for throwing objects into the crowd; writing in June 2023, Alaina Demopoulous of The Guardian cited the examples of Axl Rose, who for decades was known for throwing his microphone into the crowd, only stopping in 2022 after an Australian fan received a black eye and broken nose; Chris Brown, who threw a fan's phone into the audience in March 2023 after objecting to being filmed while administering a lap dance; and Beyoncé, who had thrown her sunglasses into the crowd [15] on 30 May 2023. [73] Demopoulous also used her article to note that security concerns were focused more on crowd crushes following the Astroworld and the Seoul Halloween crowd crush incidents. [15] Bob Brecht of live event production company TSE Entertainment proposed seating the crowd far enough away from the artist so that they could not reach them, but believed artists "would never stand for that, because they get a lot of their enthusiasm and excitement from a crowd". [15]

Writing in July 2023, Joel Golby of The Guardian suggested it was a combination of three trends. One, "the elastic back-and-forth of fan and artist closeness that boomed during the peak of social media (and led to the current ferocious energy of stan culture)" beginning to regain "its controlled distance again" meant that fans were struggling to accept that their favourite artists were "letting someone from 'their team' do all their tweets and grid posts again". Two, with TikTok filled with comprehensive footage of prior gigs, Golby said fans needed another way of getting a unique experience. And three, Golby blamed fans for wanting to enter fans' lore books and for wanting to become a meme. Golby also pointed out that some artists were encouraging the latter, citing Charli XCX signing poppers and a douche during various 2019 meet-and-greets and Phoebe Bridgers commemorating being handed a sword by getting a tattoo of the event. [74]

Writing in July 2023, crowd safety manager Paul Wertheimer argued that the abuse should be seen as part of a wider pattern that had cost Christina Grimmie and Dimebag Darrell their lives, and criticised "the industry" for not learning lessons from their deaths; Wertheimer also blamed post-lockdown aggression for the post-pandemic increase in threats against performers, and suggested that security could stand in the crowd instead of close to the stage to better address the problem. Carla Penna, psychoanalyst and crowd researcher, also blamed social media for eroding the borders between fans and artists. She noted misogyny as one possible cause, and suggested that "2½ years of lockdown and social distance" meant that "people changed their behavior, and many still feel uneasy in crowded or confined spaces". [3]

Responses

The assault on Harry Styles with Skittles prompted venues to stop allowing fans to bring gifts. Bebe Rexha started wearing protective eyewear during performances following her assault. [75] Taylor Swift's fans created a concert etiquette guide. [76]

DJ Zane Lowe asked fans to stop throwing things at artists. [26] During a July 2023 show for her Weekends with Adele residency, Adele called on fans to "stop throwing things at the artist", and joked that she will "fucking kill" anyone who threw anything at her. [77] Alicia Keys responded by installing her eight-year old son as a security guard, [78] while Kelly Clarkson requested that concertgoers throwing objects at her throw diamonds; she later had a teddy bear thrown at her. [79] Her diamonds remark was later praised by Kelsea Ballerini. [80] Tyler, the Creator begged fans to "stop throwing [their] shit on stage", [76] John Mayer requested that fans "please be kind", [81] Charlie Puth responded by begging fans to "just enjoy the music", [82] and Kelly Hansen chastised the "very, very dangerous" trend. [83]

Jason Derulo responded by stating that the assaults "disrespect the artist", [84] while Billie Eilish noted that people had been throwing things at her for six years and that it was "infuriating". Finneas O'Connell said that he understood fans' urges but pleaded them not to act on them. [85] Tim McGraw said he was "used to soft goods being thrown at" him, but asked fans not to "throw anything that’s got any heft to it", as a premature concert ending due to injury "ruins the show for everybody". [86] Corey Taylor found it dehumanising and blamed social media. [87] Dave Mustaine, on the other hand, was unsympathetic, arguing that if the artists gave a good enough show, audiences would not feel the need to express disapproval. [88]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moshing</span> Style of dance

Moshing is an extreme style of dancing in which participants push or slam into each other. Taking place in an area called the mosh pit, it is typically performed to aggressive styles of live music such as punk rock and heavy metal.

Woodstock 1999 was a music festival held from July 22 to July 25, 1999, in Rome, New York, United States. After Woodstock '94, it was the second large-scale music festival that attempted to emulate the original 1969 Woodstock festival. Like the previous festivals, it was held in upstate New York; the festival site was the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, roughly 100 miles (160 km) northwest of the 1969 Woodstock site in Bethel. Approximately 220,000 people attended the festival over the four days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wes Scantlin</span> American musician

Wesley Reid Scantlin is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and only constant member of rock band Puddle of Mudd. He was named one of the "Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists" by Hit Parader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roskilde Festival</span> Danish annual music festival held in Roskilde

The Roskilde Festival is a Danish music festival held annually south of Roskilde. It is one of the largest music festivals in Europe and the largest in the Nordic countries. It was created in 1971 by two high school students and a promoter. In 1972, the festival was taken over by the Roskilde Foundation, which has since run the festival as a non-profit organization for development and support of music, culture and humanism. In 2014, the Roskilde Foundation provided festival participants with the opportunity to nominate and vote upon which organizations should receive funds raised by the festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading and Leeds Festivals</span> Pair of annual music festivals in England

The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm on Richfield Avenue in central Reading, near Caversham Bridge. The Leeds event is held in Bramham Park, near Wetherby, the grounds of a historic house. Headliners and most supporting acts typically play at both sites, with Reading's Friday line up becoming Leeds' Saturday line-up, Reading's Saturday line-up playing at Leeds on Sunday, and Leeds' Friday line-up attending Reading on Sunday. Campsites are available at both sites and weekend tickets include camping. Day tickets are also sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Card throwing</span> Standard playing performance card trick

Card throwing is the art of throwing standard playing cards with great accuracy or force. It is performed both as part of stage magic shows and as a competitive physical feat among magicians, with official records existing for longest distance thrown, fastest speed, highest throw, greatest accuracy, and the greatest number of cards in one minute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killing of Meredith Hunter</span> Stabbing death at the 1969 Altamont Free Concert

Meredith Curly Hunter Jr. was an American man who was killed at the 1969 Altamont Free Concert. During the performance by the Rolling Stones, Hunter approached the stage, and was driven off by members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club who were providing security and had agreed to prevent members of the audience from mounting the stage. He subsequently returned to the stage area, drew a revolver, and was stabbed and beaten to death by Hells Angels member Alan Passaro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ten Cent Beer Night</span> 1974 Major League Baseball promotion in Cleveland, Ohio

Ten Cent Beer Night was a promotion held by Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians during a game against the Texas Rangers at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., on June 4, 1974. The promotion was meant to improve attendance at the game by offering cups of beer for just 10 cents each, a substantial discount on the regular price of 65 cents, with a limit of six beers per purchase but with no limit on the number of purchases made during the game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texxas Jam</span> Annual summer rock concert

Texxas Jam was the informal nickname of an annual summer rock concert called the Texxas World Music Festival (1978–1988). It was held in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl, and in Houston, at either the Astrodome or the Rice Stadium on the campus of Rice University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concert etiquette</span> Set of social norms for concertgoers

Concert etiquette refers to a set of social norms observed by those attending musical performances. These norms vary depending upon the type of music performance and can be stringent or informal.

Bottling is an action where a concert audience throws various objects at the performers onstage. This generally happens at festivals when one act in the lineup is of a different genre or audience from the rest of the bands, especially festivals where the majority of bands are related to heavy metal and punk rock music styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aditya Narayan</span> Indian actor, host and singer

Aditya Narayan Jha is an Indian singer, host and actor. He is the son of singer Udit Narayan. He is known for hosting Indian Idol and participating in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 9.

The M+M's Tour was the sixth concert tour by American entertainer Britney Spears, consisting of six brief shows at clubs in the United States. Spears expressed interest in touring again as early as February 2006. She started rehearsing for a show at House of Blues venues in secret, and pulled out of a surprise performance on April 25, 2007, at Los Angeles nightclub Forty Deuce. After a marquee reading "The M+M's" at the House of Blues in San Diego, California, appeared in late April 2007, media sources identified the act as Spears, and the show quickly sold out. The title, "M+M's" code name was claimed to be Mother and Miss. The tour marked the first time Spears performed live since The Onyx Hotel Tour in June 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxegen 2007</span> Irish music festival held in July 2007

Oxegen '07 was the fourth Oxegen festival to take place, following the dissolution of its predecessor Witnness in 2004. It took place on the weekend of Saturday, 7 July and Sunday, 8 July at Punchestown Racecourse near Naas in County Kildare, Ireland. The festival was headlined by Muse and Snow Patrol on the Saturday and The Killers on the Sunday. The Live Earth concerts occurred around the world on the same day as the Saturday of Oxegen '07.

The 1974 Cleveland Indians season was the team's 74th season in Major League Baseball. It involved the Indians competing in the American League East, where they finished fourth with a record of 77–85.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budweiser Stage</span> Concert venue in Toronto

The Budweiser Stage, originally known as the Molson Amphitheatre, is a concert venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the grounds of Ontario Place and hosts many diverse acts, including genres like rock, pop, country, and jazz. The first musician to perform there was Bryan Adams on May 18, 1995.

Astroworld Festival was an annual music festival run by American rapper and singer Travis Scott, held in Houston, Texas, at NRG Park, near the former site of Six Flags AstroWorld. The festival was first held in November 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astroworld Festival crowd crush</span> 2021 crowd disaster in Houston, Texas, US

On November 5, 2021, a fatal crowd crush occurred during the Astroworld Festival, an annual musical event hosted by American rapper Travis Scott at NRG Park in Houston, Texas. Eight people were pronounced dead on the day of the incident, and two more died in the hospital in the following days. The Harris County medical examiner's office declared the cause of death to be compressive asphyxiation while the manner of death was ruled an accident.

References

  1. Boitard, L (1763), Print, Victoria and Albert Museum, archived from the original on 19 August 2023, retrieved 19 August 2023
  2. McKenry, Timothy (10 August 2023). "Throwing things on stage is bad concert etiquette – but it's also not a new trend". The Conversation . Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Brown, August (6 July 2023). "What's behind the epidemic of concertgoers throwing stuff at artists?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 "This Might Be Why People Are Throwing Things At Performers At Concerts". HuffPost UK. 3 August 2023. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  5. McGrath, Nick (3 April 2021). "Sir Tom Jones: 'The knicker throwing started in the Copacabana in New York in 1968'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  6. Greene, Andy (20 January 2022). "Ozzy Osbourne Bit the Head Off a Live Bat 40 Years Ago Today". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  7. "When David Bowie was assaulted by a lollipop". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 7 February 2023. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  8. "Simple Plan's Homecoming Welcome: A Bottle To The Face". MTV. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  9. "Panic! At The Disco speak after bottling". NME. 25 August 2006. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  10. "Tila Tequila suffers cuts, but escapes juggalos attack - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  11. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (12 September 2020). "Toots Hibbert, pioneering reggae star, dies aged 77". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  12. "Despite singer's request, 'Toots' bottle-thrower sentenced to jail". CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  13. 1 2 "The long, strange history of people throwing stuff at Harry Styles". British GQ. 22 November 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  14. "Asda bans under-25s from buying kiwis to protect Harry Styles". The Independent. 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Demopoulos, Alaina (22 June 2023). "From Bebe Rexha to Steve Lacy: why are fans throwing phones at musicians?". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  16. Brooks, Dave (15 July 2021). "New Concertgoers Fueling Live Music Comeback, Data Shows". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 "There is a serious problem with live music audiences right now". Dazed. 4 January 2023. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  18. Downen, Robert (24 October 2021). "Playboi Carti concert canceled after chaos outside NRG Arena". Houston Chronicle . Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  19. Patel, Vimal; Kasakove, Sophie (15 November 2021). "What to Know About the Houston Astroworld Tragedy". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  20. Janowitz, Nathaniel (10 February 2023). "Why Do People Keep Throwing This Bald Doll at Celebrities?". Vice. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  21. Skinner, Tom (11 August 2022). "Lady Gaga hit in the face by Dr Simi doll thrown from audience". NME. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  22. Jacob, Lola (10 March 2022). "Live show etiquette... is this why we can't have nice things?". Coup De Main Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  23. "Rolling Loud: Kid Cudi Walks Offstage As Crowd Won't Stop Throwing Bottles". Stereogum. 23 July 2022. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  24. Garcia, Thania (29 August 2022). "Harry Styles Stops MSG Show to Ask Audience, 'Who Threw That Chicken Nugget?'". Variety. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  25. Dailey, Hannah (17 October 2022). "Harry Styles Shakes Off 'Unfortunate' Concert Moment When an Object Hits Him Where It Hurts: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  26. 1 2 Paul, Larisha (17 November 2022). "Skittles Reminds Fans to Keep Their Candy to Themselves After Harry Styles Injured by Flying Skittle". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  27. "Fans keep throwing objects at musicians. This list of incidents is proof of the trend". TODAY.com. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  28. Robledo, Anthony. "Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses will stop throwing mic into crowd after fan was allegedly injured". USA TODAY. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  29. "'Mutations Festival' – Day Two Report (Friday)". Brighton and Hove News. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  30. "Gig Review: piri & tommy at The Bodega - Leftlion - Nottingham Culture". leftlion.co.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  31. Cain, Sian (14 December 2022). "'This place makes me utterly miserable': Azealia Banks refuses to tour Australia again". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  32. "Kehlani 'Sick To Their Stomach' After Being Sexually Assaulted By Fan". Essence. 15 December 2022. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  33. "Brixton Academy faces indefinite closure after fatal crush". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 26 April 2023. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  34. "Brixton Academy faces indefinite closure after fatal crush". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 26 April 2023. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  35. Hall, James (25 January 2023). "What Brixton's Asake crush means for the future of crowd safety – and live music". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  36. "Kane Brown Hit In The Balls By Thrown Boot In Wichita". Stereogum. 14 April 2023. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  37. Richards, Will (23 June 2023). "Beyond Wonderland shooting suspect blames act on bad mushroom trip". NME. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  38. Ashford, Joy (19 June 2023). "New Jersey man charged with assault after throwing phone at Bebe Rexha during show". USA Today. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  39. "Ava Max says she was slapped onstage during Los Angeles performance". NBC News. 21 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  40. "Ava Max slapped in face and scratched in the eye by man who runs on stage during her LA show". Sky. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  41. McIntosh, Steven (21 June 2023). "Ava Max says stage invader scratched her eye during LA concert". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  42. Gilbert, Natalee (3 July 2023). "Sexyy Red Goes Off After Getting Money Thrown at Her During Performance – Watch". XXL Mag. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  43. "Pink gets given cheese onstage a day after she was given ashes". Los Angeles Times . 28 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  44. "Kelsea Ballerini Hit With an Object During Her Idaho Concert". Seventeen Magazine. 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  45. "Lil Nas X Dodges Projectile Sex Toy: "Who Threw They Pussy on Stage?"". Exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  46. "Fan throws phone at Drake on stage during tour kickoff". NME. 7 July 2023. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  47. "Drake Was Disappointed to Have No Bras Thrown at Him During Montreal Concert". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  48. Shifferaw, Abel. "Drake, Here's the Woman Who Threw the 36G Size Bra at You". Complex. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  49. "Drake Asks Crowd to Not Throw Bras During Show with Son Present: 'Keep This a Little PG'". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  50. Price, Joe. "50 Cent Jokes About Drake Fans Tossing Bras on Stage: 'What Do I Get'". Complex. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  51. Iasimone, Ashley (22 July 2023). "Drake Calls Out Fan for Throwing Vape at Him on Stage in Brooklyn: 'You Got Some Real Life Evaluating to Do'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  52. Bowenbank, Starr (27 July 2023). "Drake Calls Out Fan Who Threw Purse at Him Onstage: 'You Don't Have, Like, a Life You Need to Attend To?'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  53. "Drake Catches Copy of His Book Fan Throws at Him on Stage: 'You're Lucky I'm Quick'". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  54. Legaspi, Althea (9 July 2023). "Taylor Swift Proves Third Time's the Charm With 'Last Kiss' Performance". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  55. Aniftos, Rania (19 May 2023). "Sweetest Friendship Bracelet Moments at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour". Billboard. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  56. Burke, Sammi (13 July 2023). "Taylor Swift Dodges Objects Being Thrown at Her by Fans". Parade. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  57. Coleman, Vernon (13 July 2023). "Latto Threatens to Fight Fan Who Threw Item on Stage All While Continuing to Perform". XXL Mag. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  58. "Stones thrown at Roméo Elvis during concert". The Brussels Times . 31 July 2023. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  59. 1 2 "Cardi B throws microphone into crowd at gig after being hit by drink". BBC News. 31 July 2023. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  60. "Cardi B: US police drop battery investigation over thrown microphone". BBC News. 4 August 2023. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  61. "Microphone thrown by Cardi B makes $100k for charity". BBC News. 9 August 2023. Archived from the original on 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  62. "Nick Jonas keeps cool as fan throws undergarment onstage during concert". www.geo.tv. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  63. 1 2 "Nick Jonas reacts angrily after someone from crowd throws object at him on stage during concert. Watch". Hindustan Times. 20 August 2023. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  64. Iasimone, Ashley (21 August 2023). "Jonas Brothers Dedicate 'Little Bird' to Valentina, a Fan's Late Child, in Toronto". Billboard. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  65. "Nick Jonas asks fans to stop throwing objects on stage during live shows". The Independent. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  66. "Maluma Caught a Crutch Thrown at Him on Stage During His Don Juan World Tour Opener". Peoplemag. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  67. Mier, Tomás (11 September 2023). "Maluma Catches a Crutch (and Dances With It) After Fan Throws It Onstage". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  68. Kiest, Jim (25 September 2023). "Fan reportedly hit Maluma with a phone during San Antonio concert". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  69. Shafer, Ellise (13 November 2023). "Taylor Swift Asks Fans Not to Throw Objects on Stage at Buenos Aires Concert: 'It Really Freaks Me Out'". Variety. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  70. Rockson, Gabrielle (22 April 2024). "Nicki Minaj Throws Item Back into Crowd After Nearly Getting Hit by Object Onstage". People . Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  71. Soloff, Rachel (2 December 2022). "Opinion | COVID-19 ruined concert culture". The Pitt News. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  72. "Opinion: Post-pandemic concerts are worse, and concert-goers are to blame | Opinion | lsureveille.com". 20 August 2023. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  73. Duran, Anagricel (2 June 2023). "Beyoncé gives her sunglasses back to a fan after a security scuffle". NME. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  74. Golby, Joel (5 July 2023). "Choosing to throw a full wheel of brie at Pink is not a normal decision – but these are not normal times". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  75. "Eye protection, but make it chic: Bebe Rexha's shades shield her face after phone fiasco". Los Angeles Times. 3 July 2023. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  76. 1 2 Khomami, Nadia (4 August 2023). "Bad behaviour at concerts is becoming normalised, experts say". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  77. "Adele calls on fans to "stop throwing" things at artists on stage". NME. 4 July 2023. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  78. "Alicia Keys' 8-year-old son stands guard at concert after 'object throwing' incidents". ITV . 1 August 2023. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  79. Singh, Surej (1 August 2023). "Kelly Clarkson warns fans against throwing things onstage at Las Vegas residency". NME. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  80. "Kelsea Ballerini applauds Kelly Clarkson's response to fans throwing objects on stage". The Independent. 11 August 2023. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  81. "Taylor Swift Fans React to John Mayer's 'Please Be Kind' Message Amid 'Dear John (Taylor's Version)'". Billboard. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  82. "Charlie Puth Raises Alarm About Dangerous Concert Trend". Huffington Post. 3 July 2023. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  83. Blabbermouth (24 July 2023). "FOREIGNER's KELLY HANSEN Blasts 'Very, Very Dangerous' Concert Trend Of Throwing Objects At Artists". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  84. "Jason Derulo Gives Advice to Artists Thrown Things During Concerts: 'It's Getting Dangerous Out Here'". Music Times. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  85. Chuba, Kirsten (10 July 2023). "Billie Eilish, Finneas Weigh in on Trend of Fans Throwing Objects at Artists Onstage: "We Get It, but Don't Do It"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  86. Melas, Chloe (31 July 2023). "Tim McGraw speaks out on concertgoers throwing things at shows: 'It's terrible'". CNN. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  87. Jones, Damian (7 August 2023). "Corey Taylor on fans throwing things at performers: "Artists aren't regarded as people anymore"". NME. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  88. Nyheter, S. V. T. (31 July 2023). "Megadeth redo för svenska fansen: "Ätit mycket fett"". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.