There’s nothing worse than performing to a crowd of people staring at their phones… At least, that’s what must have been going through Miranda Lambert‘s head during a recent concert.
At her Saturday night concert in Las Vegas (where she currently has her residency), the country music star called out a group of fans, sparking a mixed reaction from the rest of the audience.
It all started when Miranda began performing her hit song Tin Man, with the 39-year-old hardly singing the tune for long before halting the music and addressing the crowd.
The Texas native expressed her frustration with some girls who were more focused on taking selfies than listening to the song. She pointed to the area in the crowd and stated: “I’m gonna stop right here for a second… These girls are worried about their selfie and not listening to the song. It’s p***ing me off a little bit.”
The country singer received cheers from many attendees as she continued: “I don’t like it, at all. We’re here to hear some country music tonight; I’m singing some country damn music.” Lambert then asked the group to sit down and suggested starting the song again.
While she resumed singing, the response from the audience was a little mixed. Some people hollered, cheered, and whistled in support of the artist, while others left the arena in protest.
A fan-recorded video of the incident circulated on TikTok, generating thousands of comments from the online community. Opinions were divided, with some expressing their love for Miranda but questioning her reaction. Others were more sympathetic, believing fans should give their undivided attention to the artists they paid to see.
“I love Miranda, but what?” one person wrote.
Another TikTok user was more understanding, adding: “I mean give the artists you paid tickets for your undivided attention… you don’t need to record everything. EMBRACE IT.”
@thewomenofcountry We couldn’t help but cheer on @Dolly Parton during her halftime performance at today’s Dallas Cowboys game! 💙📣 Who agrees she should perform at the Superbowl? #dollyparton #9to5 #dallascowboys #thewomenofcountry #countrymusic #womeninmusic #newmusic #nashville ♬ 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
However, the majority of comments criticized Lambert’s actions, suggesting that since fans had paid for tickets, they should be allowed to capture moments and react to the performance as they see fit.
“Yeah I would’ve left, f*** that,” one person wrote. “They paid to be there. If you don’t want pictures then don’t allow phones. That’s ridiculous.”
Another person suggested: “I’ve seen tons of people record their reactions to hearing their favorite song live… I feel like they were just excited, that’s so uncalled for.”
A further comment read: “And that’s when I’d have walked out.”
Miranda Lambert’s next performance for her Velvet Rodeo residency is scheduled for Wednesday.
What do you think of the situation? Let us know in the comments!