This concert season could be remembered as the Summer of Hurling Objects: Over the past few months, several music artists, including Harry Styles, Bebe Rexha, Drake, and Kelsea Ballerini, have experienced interruptions and objects being thrown at them while performing on stage. These objects range from beverages and vape pens to cellphones. The most recent incident involved Cardi B, who had liquid thrown at her face during a show in Las Vegas. In retaliation, Cardi B threw her microphone in the direction of the concertgoer, leading to the filing of a battery report by an audience member.
These incidents have become so common that some artists are now warning their attendees to keep their belongings to themselves. Adele, during one of her recent Las Vegas residency shows, addressed the issue and even brandished a T-shirt gun to make her point. She jokingly dared anyone to throw something at her, emphasizing the need for proper show etiquette.
Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, a professor of communication at the University of Arizona specializing in media effects and audience behaviors, believes two factors contribute to this trend. Firstly, after a long period of isolation due to COVID, people’s behavior has noticeably deteriorated, not only at concerts but across the board. Additionally, the strengthening of parasocial relationships during the pandemic plays a role. Fans feel a sense of intimacy with performers through constant exposure to their daily lives through short-form videos, creating a one-sided friendship in the minds of the fans.
When fans see these performers in person, they may expect an actual two-way interaction to occur, often leading to misguided actions such as throwing objects. This could be seen as an act of desperation to gain the performer’s attention, even if it involves violence. The desire for attention and validation, fueled by social media, also contributes to this trend. The anonymity of a dark concert venue and a large crowd may encourage individuals to engage in disruptive behavior in hopes of going viral.
Given that many of the artists affected by these incidents are women, some speculate that misogyny plays a role. Professor Paul Booth, an expert in media and pop culture, suggests that people may feel entitled to women’s attention and believe they are more likely to reciprocate. Instances such as throwing a fan’s mother’s cremated ashes at Pink or Bebe Rexha being hit with a cellphone point towards this possibility.
Interestingly, this trend is not entirely new. Historical examples include Tom Jones and Teddy Pendergrass concerts where fans would throw panties on stage. The Beatles also experienced similar incidents during the height of Beatlemania when fans would throw Jelly Babies at them. These behaviors, although driven by affection, often caused distress to the artists.
Sometimes, it is the artists themselves who encourage or participate in these interactions. Concertgoers have witnessed artists throwing items into the crowd or calling for certain actions. However, it’s important to distinguish between these instances and the ones that jeopardize the safety of the artists.
In conclusion, the reasons behind the recent surge in object throwing at concerts are complex. It involves a combination of eroding social behavior, parasocial relationships, the desire for attention and viral moments on social media, and potentially, underlying misogyny. While this trend has garnered attention, it is not entirely unprecedented, and both artists and audiences have played a role in perpetuating such interactions.
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