There is an unsettling trend happening now, where artists are being hit by objects thrown by audience members. Harry Styles is the latest victim.
The X Factor UK alum and former One Direction member was hit in the eye by a thrown object while performing Saturday night in Vienna, Austria. The singer was hit as he was walking across the stage between songs. He bent over, covering his eyes with his hands and in obvious pain. Watch the incident on Twitter.
It’s not the first time Harry has been hit by flying objects. He was struck by someone throwing Skittles during a Los Angeles concert last year, and was hit by a thrown chicken nugget at a New York show.
Artists including Bebe Rexha, Pink, Drake, Kid Cudi, Steve Lacy, Kelsea Ballerini and Ava Max have recently been victimized. Bebe was the first, and most serious injury. She was hit in the face with a cellphone so hard that she was forced to stop the show and get stitches. A 27-year-old man was arrested. Kelsea was hit in the eye with a bracelet. Drake dodged a cell phone, but was not hit.
However, the weirdest incident involved Pink. An audience member at her recent London concert threw her late mother’s ashes on stage, which completely blew the singer’s mind. “I don’t know how I feel about this,” she said on stage. In the linked video, she’s seen handing the baggie back to the fan.
Why has behavior that could potentially harm an artist become a trend? It seems that social media clout chasers have latched on to the idea as a way to get attention. It’s pretty messed up, not to mention dangerous. Somebody is going to lose an eye, or even more.
