In a year already full of bizarre and disturbing concert incidents, a new chapter has opened to highlight the growing problem of bad behavior by fans at live shows.
From Pink throwing a wheelbarrow to Brie to Harry Styles dodging flying chicken nuggets, no artist seems to be immune to this disturbing trend. This summer, a Bebe Rexha concert in Wisconsin took an unexpected turn when she found herself facing a raucous crowd.
023 was an odd year in terms of concerts. No artist seemed to be safe from irrational fans throwing random objects at them, even in the presence of venue barriers. A fan threw a bag of ashes and a wheel of Brie at Pink, Harry Styles got chicken nuggets and Bebe Rexha was famously hit in the forehead with a phone. Fast forward to this summer when Rexha hits the road again. He also isn’t going to put up with fans who don’t know how to behave during live shows.
Rexha had many audience members removed from her event in Wisconsin on June 1 after objects were thrown at her. The actress was seen holding herself to the ground in a TikTok video, but it is unclear what was thrown. Rexha recalled the phone incident last June when she yelled on live TV: “If you want to punch me in the face, I’ll let them blame the other guy.” “I would like to become richer.”
It didn’t take long for Rexha to clarify that she was “just kidding” and didn’t mean to “invite” such behavior. But the audience applauded her for solving the matter quickly. A little later, the video shows another spectator being taken out of the auditorium. Rexha apologized to the audience for the interruption, saying, “It didn’t have to go that far,” before continuing her performance.
Nicholas Malvagna, a concertgoer, phoned Rex at her New York show in June 2023. (The “My Heart Wants What It Wants” singer was on her Best F’n Night of My Life tour at the time; she was stitched up, and he later admitted to assaulting her with an object, because he “thought it would be funny”.
Malvagna was reportedly charged shortly thereafter with one count of second-degree harassment and two counts of third-degree assault. A minor development in the case came in February of this year when Malvagna agreed to a court offer to have his charges dropped in exchange for 40 days of community service.
Chris Crocker needs to make a video for “Leave Bebe Rexha Alone” right now.
As concerts continue to be marred by disturbing incidents of fan misbehavior, Bebe Rexha’s swift response to the latest disruption at her Wisconsin show underscores a broader call for respect and safety at live shows. Despite the unfortunate interruptions, Rexha’s firm attitude and quick steps to resolve the situation demonstrate her determination to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for herself and her audience. The worrying trend of careless fan behavior highlights the need for greater awareness and responsibility among concertgoers. As the industry grapples with these challenges, the focus remains on ensuring that artists can perform without fear of harm and that audiences can enjoy shows without the threat of disruptive or dangerous acts.