2023 has the summer of unruly concertgoers. So far, bras, phones and a woman’s ashes have been thrown, pelted, and flung at the likes of Bebe Rexha, Drake, Kelsea Ballerini, Kid Cudi, Pink and Harry Styles. Now that Cardi B has become the latest victim, the celebrities are finally fighting back.
On Saturday, Cardi B was performing her 2018 hit “Bodak Yellow” at Drai’s Beach Club in Las Vegas when a concertgoer threw her drink at the rapper. Cardi B immediately hurled her microphone into the audience before unleashing a string of expletives. Cockburn commends Cardi for her excellent aim — she hit the culprit squarely in the chest.
Cardi had warmed up her throwing arm the night before. While performing at Drai’s Nightclub on Friday, Cardi threw her microphone at a DJ who cut her song off early. Last year at London’s Wireless Festival, she also used her mic as a weapon. While chatting with fans in the front row, she allegedly felt someone grabbing her hair causing her to bludgeon them with her mic.
Cardi’s experience with rowdy fans has been less dangerous than some, but her reaction has been bigger than any. In July, a fan threw a phone at Bebe Rexha’s forehead, splitting her brow and bruising her eye. Rexha was brought to a nearby hospital and required stitches. As for Cardi, it’s unclear if any of the drink even got on her, but that doesn’t matter — if the audience throws something at her, she will fight back.
Cockburn hopes that Cardi can serve as an example for celebrities everywhere who have been assaulted on stage. So far, other singers have been all talk and no retaliation. The rapper Latto threatened “want your ass beat?” after she was hit by a projectile in Germany. Drake called out a woman who threw her purse at him. Adele lectured her audience at Caesars Palace about “show etiquette.” Only Cardi has taken her self-defense into her own hands — will more follow suit?
