15 Times Celebs Were Attacked by Fans

Crowds can be unpredictable and sometimes excitement spills over into dangerous territory. Over the years, a number of stars have been struck by objects, rushed on stage, or grabbed in public, turning live moments into safety incidents that made headlines. These are the moments where the line between fandom and personal boundaries was crossed and what happened next.

Below are fifteen documented cases from concerts and public appearances where fans or audience members physically targeted a celebrity. You will find when and where it happened, what injuries were reported, and how security and law enforcement responded in the aftermath.

Bebe Rexha

During a New York City show at The Rooftop at Pier 17 a concertgoer threw a phone that struck her near her eye. The impact caused a cut that required stitches and the show ended early so she could receive medical care. Photos shared afterward showed significant bruising around her eye.

Security detained the individual at the venue and police arrested him on assault charges. The incident prompted renewed calls from artists and promoters to restrict objects in the air at shows and to reinforce bag checks and front of stage monitoring.

Ava Max

At the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles a man got onto the stage and approached her during a performance. He reached her before security and slapped her which left a scratch near her eye. She stepped off briefly and then returned to acknowledge the crowd and finish the night.

Venue security removed the man immediately and handed him off for further action. The episode led to additional barricade checks at subsequent dates and added reinforcement at the lip of the stage to prevent a repeat.

Kelsea Ballerini

While performing at Outlaw Field in Boise she was hit in the face by a bracelet thrown from the crowd. She paused the set and exited for a short time as her team checked for injury and reset the stage environment. She later returned and addressed the crowd about show etiquette and safety.

Promoters coordinated with security to identify the thrower and review camera angles around the pit. The tour implemented extra reminders over the PA and on screens before the next shows asking fans to keep items to themselves.

Harry Styles

At a show in Vienna he was leaving the stage when an object from the audience flew in and hit him near the eye. He covered his face as crew members guided him off and he was able to continue the performance after a brief pause. The incident drew wide attention because it followed similar disruptions on other tour stops.

The venue increased the number of floor personnel for subsequent events and tightened the no throw policy communicated at the door. Tour staff also adjusted exit routes to give him more buffer when moving between stage and backstage.

Cardi B

She was performing at a daytime event in Las Vegas when an audience member threw a drink at the stage and splashed her. In the immediate reaction she threw her microphone toward the person who had tossed the drink. Security moved in and cleared the area around the front row.

A police report was filed related to the on stage exchange which triggered a short review of crowd behavior and performer response. Organizers added additional roped zones at the front of the stage at later events to reduce direct reach from the crowd.

Drake

On the opening run of a North American tour a phone was thrown from the audience during an arena show and struck his arm near the thrust stage. He continued performing while security retrieved the device and scanned the surrounding section for the person responsible.

The production updated instructions to local security teams to monitor for airborne objects and to intervene earlier with fans holding phones above the barricade. Venues reiterated their prohibited items list and added visible signage around the bowl.

Steve Lacy

At a show in New Orleans a fan threw a disposable camera toward him and it struck the stage near his feet. He stopped the performance briefly and addressed the audience about throwing objects. The remainder of the set was shortened as crews confirmed that the area was clear.

The incident prompted conversations across touring circles about items fans bring to shows and how they use them. Several venues began asking patrons to keep all objects below shoulder height during performances and empowered ushers to issue warnings.

Noel Gallagher

During an outdoor festival in Toronto a stage invader broke through security and slammed into him from behind while he performed with Oasis. The collision knocked him to the ground and caused a rib injury that required medical attention which forced the band to stop the set.

Police arrested the man on site and charged him and the festival reviewed its security plan around the runway and stage stairs. After the incident the team added more stage edge personnel and reinforced the separation between the pit and the thrust.

Miley Cyrus

While leaving a hotel in Barcelona she was grabbed by a man in a crowd as she walked to a vehicle with her team. Video showed the person reaching through others and pulling her by the hair and around the neck before security pushed him away and moved her into the car.

The clip circulated widely and highlighted the risks during arrivals and departures where barriers are often close to walkways. Her team increased the spacing and timing for future hotel exits and used larger corridors with double barricades to prevent physical contact.

Adam Levine

At a charity concert in Los Angeles a woman managed to get onto the stage and wrapped her arms around him during a song. Security pulled her away within seconds and escorted her off. He stepped back to reset and then continued the performance.

Venue staff reviewed stage access points and placed additional personnel at the stairs and wings for the remainder of the night. Organizers reminded attendees that entering the stage area is grounds for removal and possible charges.

David Bowie

During a festival performance in Oslo he was hit near the eye by a lollipop thrown from the crowd. The stick caught on his eyelid and he paused to remove it before continuing. He finished the set after confirming there was no serious injury.

The unusual incident led to extra warnings from staff about throwing objects and reinforced checks at the barrier for items that could become projectiles. Production teams adjusted spotlight positions to reduce glare that can mask incoming objects.

Chad Kroeger

At a rock festival in Portugal the Nickelback frontman faced a hostile crowd that began throwing rocks toward the stage soon after the set began. After attempts to calm the audience failed the band exited for safety and the performance was canceled.

Festival organizers brought in additional security units and paused programming while they cleared the front area. The event later updated its code of conduct and implemented stricter ejections for anyone throwing objects into the performance zone.

Beyoncé

During a show in São Paulo a fan in the front section grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the barricade as she leaned down to interact with the audience. Security responded quickly and helped her back to the stage while the band continued. She addressed the person calmly and the concert carried on.

The tour increased the number of security staff stationed along the catwalk and reduced the duration of crowd reach moments. Local promoters added a small buffer lane between the barricade and the stage to provide more space for response when needed.

Keith Richards

At a Rolling Stones concert in Hampton a man ran onstage and headed toward Mick Jagger while the band played. He stepped forward with his guitar as security rushed in and crew members tackled the intruder within seconds. The performance resumed after a short break.

The venue assessed ingress points and tightened checks at floor entrances for the following nights. The episode became a case study for how quickly stage invaders can appear and how essential coordinated responses are between band crews and venue staff.

Justin Bieber

Early in his touring years audience members threw objects toward the stage during a performance and at least one item struck him which forced a brief pause. He continued the show after conferring with crew and reminding the crowd to keep the space safe.

Security focused on the sections closest to the thrust and removed the individuals responsible. Promoters followed up with arena staff to emphasize zero tolerance for throwing items and to increase roving patrols along the barricade line.

Share your thoughts on fan behavior at shows and which moments you remember most in the comments.