Smartphones have totally changed how we experience concerts these days. For some, snapping selfies and filming videos is all about capturing memories to share with friends. But for others, it can feel like all those glowing screens take away from the magic of being in the moment.
And nobody seems to feel stronger about this than country superstar Miranda Lambert. Her unapologetic stance on selfies at her shows has fans — and the internet — buzzing.
Miranda Lambert’s bold take on concert behavior has reignited a heated debate about fan etiquette in live music settings. The controversy stems from her now-infamous callout of audience members taking selfies during her performance of ”Tin Man” at her Las Vegas Velvet Rodeo residency last year.
Just as she began singing her hit song at the Bakkt Theater, Lambert halted the music and addressed the crowd after noticing a couple of girls taking selfies on their phones.
The Texas native expressed her frustration with the girls, who she felt 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.”
“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.
A fan-recorded video of the incident circulated on TikTok, generating thousands of comments from the online community. While the “Mama’s Broken Heart” singer resumed singing, the response from the audience was a little mixed.
While some concertgoers had seemed to support Lambert, other social media users weren’t as supportive. “Way to embarrass and shame your loyal fans who adore you,” one Twitter user wrote. “She could’ve poked fun and posed in the selfie and then encouraged them to be in the moment after that. Not cool.”
”I think her reaction was a bit rude and uncalled for,” one person tweeted.
“Now you can’t take pictures at concerts? These people need to get off their high horse,” another critic added.
One Twitter user summed up the tension: ”Going to a concert is about creating a memory. If someone wants to take a picture, they should be able to.” Others countered that constant phone use detracts from the shared energy and authenticity of live music.
Fired back at Miranda Lambert’s selfie shaming
The fan involved in the initial incident, Adela Calin, later spoke out, sharing her perspective. Calin, who was ”appalled” by Miranda Lambert’s reaction, explained that the selfie only took “30 seconds at most.”
“It felt like I was back at school with the teacher scolding me for doing something wrong and telling me to sit down back in my place,” the concertgoer told NBC News and continued:
“I feel like she was determined to make us look like we were young, immature and vain. But we were just grown women in our 30s to 60s trying to take a picture.”
The next day, Calin shared the photos on her Instagram, showing the six women smiling for the camera while Miranda Lambert performed in the background.
“These are the 2 pictures we were talking about when Miranda Lambert stopped her concert and told us to sit down and not take selfies 😱,” she captioned the post.
The controversy surrounding Miranda Lambert and concert etiquette didn’t end there. At a another show, Miranda Lambert spotted a fan rocking a T-shirt that said, “Shoot tequila, not selfies,” and gave them a playful shoutout.
She pointed at the fan as she read the text on the shirt to the audience, who clapped loudly. It was the first time she publicly acknowledged the selfie incident that ruffled so many feathers and divided so many fans.
While some thought it was a funny moment, others felt it was her way of sticking to her no-selfies stance. Some people were even more upset with Lambert for adding fuel to the fire.
“Wow! Can’t believe this was her response to her rudeness,” one person wrote.
Artists are banning phones at concerts
Lambert isn’t the only artist taking a stand on concert etiquette. Controversies surrounding concertgoers and their phones have been a hot topic for quite some time. Several artists have taken a firm stance on the matter, calling out fans for being too focused on their phones instead of the live experience.
In April 2019, Bob Dylan made headlines when he abruptly stopped playing at a show in Vienna, Austria, after spotting a fan taking pictures. Dylan, who has a strict “no photos” policy, appeared visibly thrown off by the breach of that rule.
The issue has also sparked reactions from other major artists over the years. During a 2013 concert in Atlanta, Beyoncé was in the middle of performing “Irreplaceable” when one fan in the front row was too focused on filming to join in with the crowd.
Beyoncé noticed and jokingly scolded the fan, saying, “See, you can’t even sing because you’re too busy taping. I’m right in your face, baby. You gotta seize this moment, baby! Put that d*mn camera down!” While Beyoncé delivered the message in a lighthearted manner, the underlying point was clear: when you’re at a Beyoncé show, it’s time to experience it with your own eyes, not through a screen.
Cyndi Lauper has also voiced her thoughts on concert etiquette. During her 30th-anniversary tour for She’s So Unusual, she included an announcement at the start of each show telling fans not to take pictures or film the performance. Similarly, Alicia Keys takes things a step further by having fans place their phones in a Yondr pouch during concerts to prevent distractions.
Jack White, known for his bold personality, has made his opinion on phone use at shows known, too. He has said, “If your phone is that important to you that you can’t live without it for two hours… maybe it’s time to see a therapist.” For White and other artists like him, it’s all about encouraging fans to be present in the moment and truly experience the performance, without the barrier of a screen.
Growing trend of artists addressing fan behavior
Unfortunately, it seems that phones aren’t the only trend when it comes to concertgoers’ behavior. In addition to fans becoming more focused on capturing every moment on their phones, other behaviors have also started to attract attention. Everything from talking loudly during a performance to constantly moving around in the crowd has led some artists and their teams to speak out.
Adele recently called out the trend of fans throwing objects at performers, jokingly daring anyone to throw something at her.
”Have you noticed how people are, like, forgetting show etiquette at the moment, throwing (things) onstage? Have you seen it?” Adele said.
Bebe Rexha wasn’t so lucky — she was hit by a phone during a performance, an incident that left her visibly injured and sparked a broader conversation about safety for artists onstage.
Similarly, Kelsea Ballerini paused a show after being hit with a bracelet, and Harry Styles has faced a slew of incidents involving fans throwing items at him.
These moments highlight a troubling trend of blurred boundaries between fans and performers, driven in part by a culture increasingly obsessed with capturing viral moments.
What’s next for concert culture?
As incidents like these become more common, both fans and artists are reevaluating the unspoken rules of live music. Should fans put their phones away to fully immerse themselves in the moment, or should artists accept that modern audiences will document their experience?
For Lambert, the debate underscores the challenges artists face in connecting with audiences while maintaining the integrity of their performance. Looking back at what happened in 2023, it appears that Lambert doesn’t have any regrets about how she handled the incident.
According to Lambert, she’s enjoying her time as a live artist right now. But the real question is, has all the recent drama affected her, even just a little?
”I feel like I’ve done a bunch and learned a whole lot of what not to do. I give less of a s–t about what people that I don’t know think about me. But I care more about what people that are in my inner circle and really know my character do think,” she told Taste of country and continued:
”It just can bog you down, and it doesn’t mean anything. You can get really caught up about what strangers have to say about you. But it doesn’t speak to your character, because they don’t really know you. So I’m just trying to be me and be the best person I can be and learn from my mistakes.”
What do you think? Should fans have free rein to take selfies and videos, or should concerts be a phone-free zone? Share your thoughts and let us know where you stand in this modern-day concert conundrum!
