Mario Scolds Concertgoer Who Inappropriately Touched His Crotch While He Was Singing
In a troubling incident during a recent performance in Detroit, R&B singer Mario faced an unwanted and inappropriate encounter with a fan while on stage. The situation unfolded at the Masonic Jack White Theatre when a woman in the audience crossed personal boundaries, reaching out to touch Mario’s groin as he engaged with fans near the edge of the stage. Captured on video and shared online, the moment escalated quickly as Mario, visibly taken aback, knelt down to confront the woman, firmly telling her to stop. This incident highlights a growing concern within the live music scene regarding personal space and consent, particularly as artists increasingly interact closely with their fans during performances.
Mario’s experience is not an isolated case; it reflects a broader trend of unwanted physical interactions between performers and audience members. Earlier this month, pop star Ariana Grande was similarly accosted by a fan who jumped a barricade at the premiere of “Wicked,” grabbing her shoulder in a frightening breach of personal space. This pattern of behavior has raised alarms within the entertainment community, as numerous artists report instances of fans throwing objects on stage or engaging in inappropriate touching. For example, country singer Luke Bryan was hit in the face by a projectile during one of his shows, while Billie Eilish faced a situation where a fan forcefully grabbed her, causing her to fall into a barricade. These incidents serve as a stark reminder that while artists often invite audience interaction, it is crucial to respect personal boundaries and seek consent in all interactions.
The stark contrast between Mario’s encounter and a separate moment during the same Detroit show, where he invited a woman on stage to dance consensually, underscores the importance of mutual agreement in such interactions. The recent surge in incidents involving unwanted touching and aggression towards performers calls for a reevaluation of audience behavior at live events. As the live music industry continues to rebound post-pandemic, it is imperative for both fans and artists to foster an environment of respect and consent, ensuring that concerts remain safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Mario
may like to get up close and personal with fans at his shows, but one woman crossed the line at his recent stop in Detroit, inappropriately feeling up the singer’s crotch as he was performing on stage.
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In a
video
captured by someone else at the concert posted Monday (Nov. 24), Mario stands at the very edge of the stage at the Masonic Jack White Theatre, close enough for fans in the pit to touch him. One of them, however, took it too far and slid a hand over his groin.
Feeling the woman cupping his private area, the artist kneeled down and appeared to scold her, telling her to stop.
Billboard
has reached out to Mario’s rep for comment.
The incident serves as an important reminder that touching anyone without permission is never OK. Elsewhere in the Detroit show, Mario
invited a woman
to join him on stage and sang as she grinded against him — the key difference between the two situations being that in this case, both parties involved gave consent.
Mario is just the latest star to experience unwanted touch from fans. Earlier this month, Ariana Grande
made headlines
after a rogue
Wicked
premiere attendee jumped over a barricade and charged at her, grabbing on to her shoulder. It was later revealed that this was just the latest instance in a pattern of similar behaviors, with cops
previously arresting
the culprit — 26-year-old Australian man Johnson Wen — for stage-crashing a Katy Perry show and putting hands on her.
Other artists have also reported
an increase
in concertgoers throwing objects at them as they’re performing on stage, a trend that seems to have started sometime after the live-music industry resumed post-pandemic. This year alone, Luke Bryan was
hit in the face
by an object lobbed at him during a show, and Liam Gallagher
went off on
an Oasis fan who threw a live flare into one of his crowds. Billie Eilish — who’s had her own share of fans chucking things at her during shows — also recently had an audience member
forcefully grab her
, causing her to fall and slam into the barricade at a Hit Me Hard & Soft Tour stop.
