Ari Lennox is refusing to be another victim of the dangerous trend in which concert attendees throw objects at artists onstage.
The “Pressure” singer was performing her opening slot for Rod Wave’s Nostalgia tour at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (Nov. 29), when someone threw a water bottle onstage and hit her in the arm.
Lennox immediately stops the show, as seen in a video shared by TMZ, demanding to know who the perpetrator is. “I’ll f— you up,” she tells the crowd. “Who did it? Who the f— did it? I don’t play that s—. I’m a real a– b—- and I will f— your s— all the way the f— up.”
She continued, “Don’t you ever disrespect a beautiful Black woman on the f—ing stage like that. I’m going to f— you up.” Before a fight could break out, Ari’s security guard escorted her off the stage.
Bebe Rexha, Lil Nas X and Kelsea Ballerini are among the slew of artists who have recently had their shows interrupted by the launching of various objects including, respectively, a phone, a sex toy and bracelet. Ava Max was also slapped by a fan who rushed the stage, and another concertgoer threw their mother’s ashes onto the stage during P!nk’s performance at BST Hyde Park in London on June 25.
Trending on Billboard
Taylor Swift even addressed objects being thrown onstage while she was performing at Estadio River Plate for the Eras Tour in November. “Just because communication means having gentle, healthy boundaries,” said Swift, “it really freaks me out when stuff gets thrown on the stage. Because if it’s on the stage then a dancer can trip on it.”
“I love that you bought presents and that is so nice, but just, can you please not throw them on the stage,” she stated (rather than asked). “I love you so much.”