Christy Sparrow / Getty Images
Christy Sparrow / Getty ImagesThe recent trend of people throwing things at performers at concerts is one of the most mind-bogglingly stupid things to happen in a time when stupid things happen all the time. Bebe Rexha was almost knocked out when a fan threw a cell phone at her head in New York. Harry Styles was hit with an unknown object in Vienna, and Latto said, “Want your ass beat?” when he was hit with a similar object in Germany.
Cardi B showed again on Saturday in Las Vegas that she is not to be trifled with: During a show at Drai’s Beachclub in Las Vegas, a crowd member threw a drink at the rapper while performing “Bodak Yellow,” her first big hit. A second later, Cardi, a lefty, took revenge by throwing her microphone back at the “fan” who had hurt her. In the video, the person is being led away by security, and it looks like Cardi left the stage after yelling some probably colorful words at the person.
Cardi B throws microphone at audience member who threw a drink at her. pic.twitter.com/alLgHMFshb
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 30, 2023
This isn’t a new thing. In the 1970s, concertgoers often set off firecrackers and M-80s. One of them seriously hurt Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page’s right hand, and in 2004, a fan threw a lollipop stick at David Bowie, which got stuck in his eye. This made the usually calm performer react colorfully and angrily.
But the trend these days seems to be that people want to draw attention to themselves, though it’s unclear why. Nicolas Malvagna, the 27-year-old grown man who threw his phone at Bebe Rexha, thought “it would be funny,” according to a criminal complaint filed after his arrest on misdemeanor charges of harassment and assault, which is nowhere near enough punishment for someone who does something so dangerously stupid.