Here is a list of celebrities who have been attacked or killed during or after their performance for fans on stage.
Celebrities have been faced with situations that have put them in danger with people they have viewed as fans; some have survived the incident, while others have not been so lucky in this regard. Here is a list of celebrities who have been attacked during or after a performance by fans on stage.
Dimebag Darrell
On December 8, 2004, the world of heavy metal was rocked by a tragic incident. Darrell Abbott, who was known as "Dimebag Darrell," was the co-founder of the iconic American heavy metal band Pantera alongside his brother Vincent Abbott was killed during the live performance with a new band Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio.
During the performance, a deranged fan rushed onto the stage and fatally shot Dimebag Darrell, abruptly ending the life of the legendary guitarist the shooter also took the lives of three additional individuals and inflicted injuries upon several more before being subdued by the intervention of the police.
Hot stories
Christina Grimmie
Christina Grimmie, who was performing at The Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida, on June 10, 2016, was shot and killed by a gunman during a meet-and-greet session with fans. According to the account provided by the Orlando police, the tragic event unfolded when the assailant approached the late singer and fired a gunshot at her.
Following the shooting, Christina was promptly rushed to a hospital to save her life, but unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away. The perpetrator who was responsible for this shocking act was identified as 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl by the Orlando Police.
Harry Styles
Harry Styles was attacked by people in the audience during his time with the boyband One Direction and when he kicked off his solo career as well.
In November 2022, during his performance of the song Kiwi at The Forum in Los Angeles, he had Skittles being thrown at him, with one striking the singer in the eye.
It was evident he was in pain as he touched the eye until his performance ended. Notably, this was not the only instance of food-related incidents during his shows; in October 2022, he had chicken nuggets thrown at him on stage, and his performance of the hit song Kiwi in 2017 was also a food incident as fans threw the actual kiwi fruit at the singer when he was performing the song.
During his time with One Direction in 2015, an incident involving a can of Red Bull being thrown at his head made contact with the side of his face, leaving him visibly stunned and prompting him to hold his head in his hands shortly after the impact.
Ava Max
During her performance on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in Los Angeles, a man got on stage and slapped pop star, Ava Max. A video captured by a fan showcases an unidentified man attempting to swipe at Max's face during her show at the Fonda Theater.
In the video, a man dressed in black can be seen rushing the stage and extending his hand, seemingly attempting to touch Max. Security promptly intervened, apprehending the individual and escorting him away after his hand brushed against her face.
Describing the incident, Ava shared a post on social media that read, "The guy rushed on stage at the end right when the last song ended. The security guard tackled him and literally THREW him down the stairs. Wild!!! It happened so fast. You can see here she couldn't even open her eyes, but she STILL did M&G."
Taylor Swift
During her 1989 tour in 2015, Taylor Swift encountered a concerning incident when a male fan unexpectedly rushed up and grabbed her leg while she was performing Bad Blood.
Taylor was shocked by the action of the fan; she regained her composure and continued singing as security swiftly intervened to escort the man out of the venue.
In 2014, during a show at the O2 Arena in London, she was ambushed on stage by a man who managed to evade her security team. He climbed to the stage's top and handed Taylor a note before security removed him from the stage.
Another incident unfolded in 2015 when a concert-goer with potentially more aggressive motives made his way onto the stage. Fortunately, security intervened before he could approach Taylor directly.
Bebe Rexha
On Sunday, June 18, 2023, famous singer Bebe Rexha was rushed to the hospital after a flying cell phone from the audience hit her in the face during a concert at The Rooftop at Pier 17. 27-year-old Nicolas Malvagna was arrested and charged with a felony after it was discovered by the police that he had used the phone as a weapon when he threw it at the singer on stage.
Social media is abuzz with videos depicting Bebe Rexha falling to her knees after being struck by an object thrown from the audience during her performance. The footage captures the moment stagehands swiftly came to her aid in response to the incident.
Jay Z and Beyonce
In 2013, Beyoncé experienced a startling incident when a concert-goer unexpectedly pulled her off the stage. During her performance, Beyoncé used a platform that allowed her to lean towards the audience while she sang.
In a shocking turn of events, someone from the audience reached up and managed to grab her with both arms, forcefully pulling her down into the audience. Security personnel swiftly intervened, rescuing her from the man's hold before she could be drawn further into the crowd.
In 2018, Beyoncé encountered yet another audience-related incident, this time with her husband, Jay-Z.
Miley Cyrus
Another one of the popular celebrities attacked on stage is actress and singer Miley Cyrus.
Miley Cyrus faced an unsettling on-stage incident when an audience member breached the stage and physically approached her. During a 2011 performance of The Climb, a fan took it upon themselves to climb onto the stage and get closer to Miley.
The fan's attempt to touch Miley's shoulder visibly disturbed the pop star, who was just 18 years old. Her security personnel quickly removed the fan from the stage and ensured Miley's safety.
In another unfortunate incident in 2019, during a performance in Barcelona, Miley Cyrus encountered a fan who invaded her personal space. The individual began touching her hair and grabbed her, attempting to kiss her against her will forcibly.
Justin Bieber
During a 2013 concert in Dubai, Justin Bieber was suddenly attacked an uninvited man who managed to sneak onto the stage, surprising both the singer and the audience. The man grabbed Bieber from behind, taking him completely off guard. The singer managed to break free from the man's grip.
Security personnel promptly rushed onto the stage, apprehending the man who, in a shocking turn of events, pushed the piano off its hinges, causing significant damage.
Unfortunately, this incident wasn't Justin's only setback during that tour. Later in the same year, during a concert in Brazil, he endured another attack that left him visibly upset.
As he was performing his song Boyfriend, an individual in the audience hurled a water bottle at him. The bottle struck his hand, narrowly avoiding knocking his microphone to the stage floor. Overwhelmed by the unexpected hit, Justin reacted by abruptly leaving the stage, not uttering a single word.
Lana Del Ray
Lana Del Rey nearly completed a performance unscathed during a concert in Antwerp, but her safety was compromised as she exited the stage. A man attempted to jump onto the singer during the incident.
In a swift motion, the man leapt into the air and landed on Lana Del Rey while she was walking by.
Fortunately, security responded promptly, swiftly intervening to ensure her safety and guiding her away from the potential threat.
Ally Brooke of Fifth Harmony
Before she left popular girl group Fifth Harmony, Ally Brooke is one of the numerous celebrities that have been attacked on stage.
In 2016, an unsettling situation unfolded while the band was performing in Mexico.
Despite security measures in place, a man managed to breach security and make his way onto the stage. His apparent intention was to embrace Ally, but in doing so, he pulled her down to the ground.
Thankfully, security personnel quickly intervened. They swiftly apprehended the man, bringing him to the ground and escorting him off the stage to ensure Ally's safety.
Demonstrating her resilience, Ally managed to recover from the incident swiftly. Within moments, she rose to her feet and continued her performance without allowing the disturbance to hinder her show.
Cardi B
Grammy award-winning rapper Cardi B hit back at a member of the audience who threw a drink at her during her performance at an event in the US on Saturday, July 29, 2023. The rapper threw her mic at the audience member, who was later led out by the security at the event following her unwarranted act.
