Snapping selfies at a Miranda Lambert show is a picture-perfect faux pas.
During a recent performance of her “Velvet Rodeo” Las Vegas residency at the Bakkt Theater, the country singer abruptly halted her set to call out some fans for taking selfies during the show.
“These girls are worried about their selfies and not listening to the song, and it’s p—ing me off a little bit,” Lambert said, according to video of the performance posted Sunday. “I don’t like it, at all. We’re here to hear some country music tonight.”
But Lambert didn’t let the moment get her down. “Shall we start again?” she asked the audience shortly after.
Lambert isn’t the only singer who’s taken aim at concert etiquette recently. Earlier this month, a fan-captured video of British singer Adele showed the soul-pop songstress sounding off on the recent trend of fans throwing objects at artists onstage.
“Have you noticed how people are, like, forgetting show etiquette at the moment, throwing (things) onstage? Have you seen it?” Adele said, later joking, “I dare you, dare you to throw something at me.”
Artists have faced attacks from fans in recent weeks. Last month, a man was charged with assault after hitting pop singer Bebe Rexha with a phone. Similarly, an audience member slapped dance-pop singer Ava Max at a concert in June and scratched the inside of her eye. Elsewhere, someone recently threw a bracelet at Kelsea Ballerini and a bag of ashes at Pink.
Experts say this behavior likely stems from the blurring of online and real-life boundaries, leaving fans clamoring for viral moments with their favorite artists.
“The disregard for personal space and the willingness to inflict harm indicates a significant breakdown in empathy and understanding,” licensed psychologist Nathan Brandon told USA TODAY last month. “It is important to ask questions about why these attacks are happening and what underlying causes or motivations may be leading people to act out in this way.”
‘I dare you to throw something at me’:Adele says fans have forgotten ‘show etiquette’
Concert etiquette:Lil Nas X almost hit by sex toy. Bebe Rexha hit by phone. What concert behavior says about us.
Contributing: Joy Ashford and David Oliver, USA TODAY
