Fans have been throwing things on stage to show their love for artists, such as roses and flowers or t-shirts, for as long as we can remember. But recently, fans have been getting a little rambunctious, and artists are becoming concerned.
Cardi B is the latest artist to confront a summer concert issue that has been taking over social media feeds. Although Cardi B is not the only artist who has had issues, to name a few, Harry Styles, Lil Nas X, Drake, and P!nk have all run into similar problems.
Cardi B revealed the issue to be a toss-up. While performing her song “Bodak Yellow” at Drai’s Beachclub in Las Vegas on Saturday, an audience member apparently threw a drink at her. Cardi B then threw her microphone back in response, as documented by video footage of the incident.
In June, P!nk said she received a bag of human ashes during a London performance. A few days before that, a fan threw a cell phone so hard at Bebe Rexha’s face that she had to get stitches. Ava Max, another singer, was slapped mid-song by a fan who ran across the stage naked in June. Morgan Wallen also had a boot thrown at him in St. Louis for his One Night at a Time World Tour, reacting very mildly by chucking the boot behind him on stage and continuing to sign autographs.
High-profile artists have spoken out, expressing how they feel about the incident. Adele has warned fans not to throw anything at her during one of her Vegas residencies concerts. Charlie Puth chastised out-of-line concertgoers on social media. Kelly Clarkson spoke out, saying they could throw diamonds if they wanted to throw something at her.
This is leaving us wondering if this is just the latest concert trend or if it is just highly immature behavior. Many fans make signs and costumes to get the attention of stars on stage, but the recent incidents have been more violent, and certainly less affectionate.
In response, several venue organizers said they have yet to see a real cause for concern.
“It is such an exceedingly, infinitesimally rare thing that it’s not the type of issue that really comes to the fore,” said Audrey Fix Schaefer, communications director for Washington, D.C.-based concert and production company I.M.P. “We’re not hearing from the artists about it, and that’s crucial.”
Erin Anderson, executive director of the Idaho Botanical Garden, says, “We already have a list of items that are not allowed to be brought into the venues.”
“We’ve never worked with an artist that has restricted something completely outside from what we already restrict,” she added.
Any requests artists make to restrict specific items are honored, Anderson noted. The botanical garden houses the performance venue Outlaw Field, where Kelsea Ballerini was hit in the eye with a friendship bracelet during a June performance. That was the first time Anderson had seen something like that happen in her seven years working there, she added.
“The challenge we have is that we can’t stop every single thing from being tossed onto the stage,” she said. “It would just be impossible. We are hoping that by talking with concertgoers, we can start to change this culture.”
“Our goal is to always keep everyone safe,” she added.
