Gen-Z app TikTok has been blamed for ruining concerts as influencer wannabes vie for artists’ attention, try to outsing performers and do anything to get content for a viral video.
As concerts are coming back in full swing with the likes of megastars Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Beyoncé hitting the road, influencer wannabes have been flocking to concerts in hopes of garnering one viral moment caught for their TikTok following.
Concertgoers have been complaining that other attendees aren’t as interested in catching keepsake memories of being in the same room as the musician they’ve followed since childhood, but rather trying to convince performers to give them something that will blow up on social media.
YouTuber Tyler Oakley reposted a TikTok to his Twitter account of a subpar audience member belting out Billie Eilish lyrics louder than the singer herself, writing: ‘The way this would ruin my entire experience, unfortunately.’
A concertgoer at a Billie Eilish concert (pictured) tried to out-sing the performer and ‘ruined’ videos taken by Billie fans by drowning out the Ocean Eyes singer and holding notes longer than she was supposed to
1975 singer Matt Healy ended up with a fan’s thumb in his mouth during one of his shows (left) while others manhandling the singer by grabbing his shirt and touching his neck (right). More and more video of disruptive fans have hit the internet as several influencer wannabes attempt to get a clip that will go viral
One Billie fan captioned the video: ‘To the person who thinks they can out-sing Billie and ruin all my videos.’ In the 40-second clip, the female concertgoer is the only person heard screaming the high note, drowning out the singer herself. She even continued to belt out ‘oh’ much longer than Billie and other audience members did.
In several other clips in the complication, the same woman continuously held out notes longer than everyone else, annoying those around her with her off-key singing and long notes.
At a 1975 concert, Matt Healy – who has been caught French kissing a fan during his show in January – also has fans and influencer wannabes sticking their thumbs in his mouths and instantly posting it online.
In a short video, several fans can be seen putting their hands on Healy, pulling at his unbuttoned shirt and neck, while he leant over and put one fan named Kayleigh’s thumb in his mouth.
She posted the moment on social media bragging about it, writing: ‘Matty Healy just sucked my thumb goodnight.’
When she was contacted on Twitter by LADbible, a British digital publisher that often shares viral videos, about using her clip, the young woman didn’t even hesitate to let the company lift the video.
One fan didn’t hesitate to post a video of Phoebe Bridgers screaming into the microphone right in front her. Unfortunately for her, her video only garnered 2,000 views as early Wednesday morning
An I Prevail fan showed fans leaving after the opening act – Pierce the Veil, a band who formed in 2006 but recently gained popularity on TikTok. Many I Prevail fans took to the comment section to complain about the fourth of the crowd that left that ‘stole’ tickets from real fans for liking one song that went viral on the app
In November, ’25 percent of the crowd left’ after opening act Pierce the Veil performed at an I Prevail concert.
‘They weren’t lying when they said everyone was leaving after Pierce the Veil,’ TikTok user Chloe wrote.
Fans in the comment section who failed to get tickets complained other TikTokers had stolen tickets from them just to leave after the opening act. Pierce the Veil gained popularity due to the popular app, despite being formed in 2006, and commenters suspected they were leaving after only going to see the TikTok popular band.
‘This pisses me off. I Prevail is a great show and these children who like King For A Day stole tickets from fans,’ one TikToker named Elle wrote.
YouTuber Tyler Oakley said the disruptive concertgoers would ‘ruin my entire experience’
‘I literally couldn’t get tickets because of this bs,’ another wrote.
In February, a fan was busy filming Phoebe Bridgers, who was standing right in front of her, while the singer screamed into the microphone.
‘I’m actually just never getting over the fact that Phoebe Bridgers screamed in my face,’ the woman, who goes by Amy Belle on the platform, wrote. The clip has only been viewed a little over 2,000 times.
Others even demanded Bridgers perform Taylor Swift songs – the Indie singer will be joining the Cruel Summer singer on her tour for a few show dates later this year – as unexpected covers do better online than the predetermined setlist.
‘This fear of missing out, the need to be first to post something, has changed the dynamic of concert culture,’ concertgoer Karni Woods told the Wall Street Journal.
Woods also said attendees heckled Bridgers’ opening act and said they continued to scream and shout during the Grammy winner’s performance as well.
Some artist, like Maggie Rogers, has started to respond to interruptive fans, telling one: ‘It’s my time to sing. This is not your time to make sound – it’s not your space.’
Despite the pleas, hundreds of videos of disruptive fans continue to pop up online.