From handphones to human ashes, concertgoers seem to have gone wild lately

Some concert fans have long been a bit extra in showing love for their beloved artists. From tossing notes and flowers to flinging bras and bottles, artists have been hit by a number of different projectiles. But things seem to have turned more dangerous lately.

The last few years have seen celebrities getting hit by weightier objects such as bulky handphones, consequently raising concerns over extreme fan culture and security. Perhaps venues now need signs that explicitly warn fans against throwing items at the stage.

Few Fans Not Thinking Of The Consequences

Kelsea Ballerini is one of the latest artists to get hit by a flying object. In a moment caught on video, the country singer is playing her guitar onstage Wednesday evening when a bracelet hits her face, clearly catching her off guard.

Ballerini took a moment before a brief intermission is called. She later took to Instagram to inform her fans that she was fine, adding: “Someone threw a bracelet, it hit me in the eye and it more so just scared me than hurt me.”

Ashley Highfill, who was at the show and often attends concerts with her friends, said fans throwing items onstage at concerts has become a normal occurrence. “Even though there is no bad intention, people are not thinking of the consequences,” she added.

Fan Tossing Mother’s Ashes Onto The Stage

Long gone are the days of in-person fan clubs. But social media has introduced deeper connection and emotional closeness for fans, said Professor Laurel Williams from Baylor College of Medicine. But that sense of closeness could be posing a few challenges.

A recent concert saw a fan tossing their mother’s ashes onto the stage as Pink was performing. The act left the artist evidently surprised as she said: “I don’t know how to feel about this.” Maybe looking through books of history could provide a better understanding of the practice.

Is The Stage An Altar And Personal Items Devotional Objects?

According to pop culture expert David Schmid, the word “fan” was originally associated with religious devotion. And as many tend to see celebrities as “semi-divine beings”, from that perspective, the stage can be read as a form of altar and the items as devotional objects, he added.

With such acts seemingly becoming more mainstream, artists, venues and promoters should try reinforcing security. Moreover, certain recent advancements in surveillance technology, such as facial recognition, won’t anymore allow fans to fade into the crowd after tossing an item.