10 Times Musicians Stopped Their Concerts over the Actions of Attendees

Miranda Lambert faced backlash after calling out a group of concertgoers taking a selfie amidst her performance. She wasn't the first artist to stop a concert midway.

During her July 2023 concert in Las Vegas, Miranda Lambert stopped her performance of "Tin Man" to call out a group of girls. She noticed the girls taking selfies with her in the background amidst her performance and stopped singing.

According to Lambert, the girls were not listening to the song, which made her angry. She went on to furiously say that everyone came to listen to country music for the evening, which she was singing.

Shortly after, fans shared their frustration over Lambert's reaction, saying it wasn't the proper way to scold fans who paid to see her. However, there were similar instances when other artists stopped their concerts because of fans.

Pink

In June 2023, Pink paused her performance at the BST Hyde Park, London, after a fan threw a bag of ashes on stage. "This is your mom?" she said. "I don't know how to feel about this."

She walked forward and placed the bag on the stage before picking up where she left off and singing "Just Like a Pill."

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber once walked out of a performance after just one song. After singing his hit "Boyfriend," Bieber tried to wipe the water off the stage floor. However, fans in front tried grabbing the shirt he was using, even until after he told them to stop.

"Yo, listen to me. Are you listening to me?" he said. "I'm trying to wipe the floor. Give me a second. Guys, never mind, I'm done. I'm not doing the show." Bieber proceeded to walk backstage and never returned.

Bieber later apologized on Instagram, asking fans to understand where he came from. "I'm human, and I'm working on getting better at responding, not reacting," he wrote.

Madonna

In 2012, Madonna threatened fans that she would stop the concert, but perhaps for good reason. During her performance in Chile, Madonna noticed some fans smoking.

While the concert was held in an open-air theater, second-hand smoke would blow up in the artist's face. She eventually lashed out and asked fans to stop smoking. She said:

"I can't sing if you smoke. Entiendes?"

Elton John

In 2018, Elton John faced rude fans who were too handsy while on stage during his performance. Some fans started touching the piano, and after a few warnings, did not stop.

Frustrated, John stopped singing, got up, and left in the middle of the song. He refused to return until the fans were cleared.

Kanye West

Kanye West was once under fire for asking a wheelchair-bound fan to stand up during a concert. He refused to start his performance until everyone in the crowd stood up.

Finally, when he confirmed with a bouncer that the boy was disabled, he continued his performance. "If he's in a wheelchair, then it's fine," West said.

Bebe Rexha

During a concert this year, Bebe Rexha was forced to pause her performance after a fan allegedly threw a cell phone at her face. The singer had a bruised eye for days.

After tending to her eye, the artist remained positive throughout the performance and asked fans not to throw phones.

Kelsea Ballerini

Concertgoers seem to love throwing things on stage. During her Idaho concert this year, a fan threw a bracelet toward Kelsea Ballerini. Unfortunately, the accessory struck her eye amidst performing.

She left the stage to tend to her eye and told the crowd to be kinder and safer during the concert. She also asked everyone not to throw things.

Adele

Adele's kind heart shined during her 2022 London concert. When the singer noticed a fan needing help, she paused her performance and asked security to assist the person.

She also asked the crowd to clear the way for the emergency response team. The "Hello" singer also sent water to fans who waited seven hours to watch her.

Harry Styles

Another singer with an absolute heart of gold is Harry Styles, who previously went viral for stopping his concert. During his concert in Cardiff, Wales, Styles noticed a pregnant fan and said he would wait for her to use the washroom before he started performing again.

The "Music for a Sushi Restaurant" artist used the time to interact with fans and read the signs they made for him. Styles was undoubtedly raised well singlehandedly by his mother, as his dad, Desmond Styles, was no longer in the picture.