Unacceptable Fan Behaviour

Unacceptable Fan Behaviour

Over the last few years fans of music have noticed that there is an upkick in those going to concerts for views, for likes and for clicks. There has also been a surge in recent years where artists are hurt at their own concerts, are groped, are hit with things, suffering injuries and having their clothing ripped from their bodies as though they are pieces of meat instead of people. 

Many artists simply address incidents during concerts and it’s becoming common for fans to call each other out on the unacceptable behaviour witnessed by those watching or that’s reported in the media. Throwing phones on stage is common because the artists will pick up the phone and perhaps take a picture, or give it back, however Bebe Rexha was hit on the eye with a mobile phone while performing. It caused a massive injury and there was a huge backlash. 

Harry Styles has been hit numerous times with different objects, hitting him in the head, the genitals and even the face. He was hit in the eye with a skittle during a performance a few years ago and the fan who threw the skittle said that she was aiming for his mouth. This was incredibly irresponsible and ridiculous because it hurt him. 

Harry has also been hit with water in the face while on stage and has repeatedly had water thrown on stage while he is performing which is dangerous because we all know Harry is as stable as Bambi on stilts and if he slipped on stage, he could seriously injure himself. Another issue with throwing water onto the stage area was when Niall was performing with an electric guitar during One Direction and someone threw water at him. This is incredibly dangerous because had that water hit the guitar the wrong way, it could have caused a spark and electrocuted Niall. 

None of these things mention have been okay and artists such as AJ McLean of the Backstreet boys once had his earlobe ripped when fans tugged at his ear while he was performing. No artists deserves to go to work to be assaulted. Throwing anything, grabbing at the artist or lunging for them is absolutely unacceptable. 

In the age of social media many fans feel as though the artist owes them something, whether it’s their time, a picture or a hug, but what fans of musicians need to remember is that those celebrities we all love are people like us and they don’t owe us, or anyone else a second of their time when they aren’t actively working, so expecting the artist to give up their already limited free time is conceited and arrogant. 

Going to the airport or the hotel an artists is staying is crossing a boundary as it puts people in jeopardy and can make the artist themself feel vulnerable, unsafe and cause major safety concerns. If a celebrity is staying at a hotel and there are fans camped outside, how are they in the event of an emergency, supposed to safely evacuate the hotel? How are they, in case of a guest requiring medical attention, supposed to get medics into the hotel if fans are causing a blockade in the street? 

These are genuine safety concerns, not to mention the concerns I now have after a fan rushed Louis Tomlinson as he walked through the airport in Panama a few days ago. This was incredibly intimidating and worrying as this fan could have had a knife or any form of weapon and although it was swiftly dealt with, it was also a situation that didn’t need to happen. Celebrities have the right to travel in safety and chasing after cars, rattling on the windows and causing the delayed moving of cars, just so you can get a picture of the car is entitled and incredibly stupid because you or the artist you claim to love could be hurt. 

In fact, Harry Styles, was once trapped in a car while extremely sick and was being taken to the hospital. This is a situation he should never, ever have been in, where his car couldn’t move due to people blocking the car and the road. This could have been fatal for Harry, who was desperately unwell and had the situation been more serious fans could have caused Harry to collapse or slip into unconsciousness. 

While on the subject of Panama though, I want to discuss fan behaviours at Louis concerts. Over the last two years Louis has been an unstoppable force touring the world with his incredible band and gifting all fans with concerts they will never forget. However, while most of the concerts have been amazing from start to finish, some concerts, like Panama have ended on a sour note. 

Louis has been groped, physically assaulted, has had his clothes ripped from his body, has been hurt and has had his hair pulled, been choked and scratched by his supposed fans. He has shown time and again how much he enjoys getting down and into the fans, although he has also shown multiple times that he doesn’t like, want, nor appreciate fans destroying his clothing. 

Fans are not entitled to rip his clothing from his body. That is assault. Plain and simple assault. Fans who claim to love Louis yet tear at him like he’s the last piece of meat in the world, show that they don’t respect him, themselves or other fans. If you love someone you show them basic human decency and don’t grasp, pull and tear at them causing injury, pain and discomfort. 

Louis' face at the end of the Panama show, and indeed the other shows where this kind of behaviour has occurred has shown fans that he absolutely loathes when his boundaries are not respected. If Louis’ fans wish for him to continue with his barricade runs then they need to understand his boundaries and show him that he is loved. It’s not hard. Yes it’s intense, yes there are a lot of people trying to touch him and pushing others, but just because you want to touch your fave doesn’t mean that you get to hurt him or others in your quest for bragging rights. 

Louis is a human being, a real life, walking talking person and the last thing he needs to experience from his own fans is degradation, hurt and discomfort. In future, Louies, could you perhaps try to remember that and stop trying to ruin his experience of his concert, his wardrobe and his love for his fans. 

Artists are performing shows as a service to us, but fans need to remember that it is a job at the end of the day and if the artists no longer enjoy touring then they will stop and all fans will lose out. We as fans, aren’t owed concerts, music or a celebrities time, so perhaps in future music fans, you’ll remember that and make the right choices that respect the time and effort our favourite singers put in to performing for us, instead of causing them pain, sexually and physically assaulting them or treating them as though you are entitled to something from them.  Yes, fans are important to succeed, but so are healthy and happy artists. 

If you want to claw and grab at something, there are arcade games you can play, but in future leave our singers out of your grasp and let someone respectful take your place if you can’t trust yourself not to hurt those you claim to love. 

Peace Out

BTC