American singer-songwriter SZA has spoken out against a section of her Australian fans who were accused of throwing items at her during one of her gigs. SZA, who was playing the first of three concerts at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, described the actions of the individuals in question as “unacceptable behaviour”. The star reportedly told her fans that “if you throw something else, I will leave”, adding: “Do not throw up any cell phones. I’m a person. That’s crazy. OK.”
SZA’s experience is unfortunately far from unique. A number of other artists have also recently been affected by audience members throwing items during their performances. Among others, Harry Styles, Lil Nas X, Drake, Cardi B and Pink have all experienced this issue. A worrying situation arose recently when Bebe Rehxa was struck in the face by a phone thrown by a crowd member at one of her concerts.
Billie Eilish, Adele, Corey Taylor and Taylor Swift are among those who have spoken out against this trend, with Swift saying that there should be “gentle, healthy boundaries” between the artist and their audiences. Other stars have described the impact of items being thrown onto stage as “infuriating” and “frightening”.
SZA is set to take on the challenge of performing at Glastonbury next month, alongside Dua Lipa and Coldplay. It will be the first time that the singer has appeared at the famous UK festival. Before then, she will take to Hyde Park as part of the BST festival weekend in London, where she will also perform alongside a number of other high-profile artists. SZA and other artists affected by similar issues will be hoping that their fans can find a way to enjoy the shows without endangering the performers
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