Concert culture has become seeped in overwhelming expectations and ridicule. Aggressive fans bully and criticize each other, throw things at performers and treat artists they claim to love with little grace or humanity.

Chappell Roan backed out of the All Things Go music festival in Maryland after facing harsh criticism for vocalizing her frustrations with both political parties and wanting to take some time to prioritize her mental health. Roan was met with an outcry of anger from fans who accused her of not caring about her supporters and causing them to waste their money. However, other fans have responded to the backlash with more understanding, questioning why someone would buy tickets for a music festival with the intention of only seeing one artist. It is understandable to be frustrated with not seeing an artist you were looking forward to but to attack that artist for canceling on a festival with 35 other artists performing is unfair.

Roan has been open on social media about her struggles with bipolar 2 disorder and how the intensity of her manic-depressive episodes makes it difficult for her to take care of herself day to day, let alone perform at a music festival. According to the American Psychological Association, “They [Generation Z] are also more likely (37 percent), along with millennials (35 percent), to report they have received treatment or therapy from a mental health professional, compared with 26 percent of Gen Xers, 22 percent of baby boomers and 15 percent of older adults.”  For a generation so well-known for treating mental health more seriously than our parents’ generations, it is heartbreaking to see Roan’s condition treated so dismissively because toxic fan culture leads people to believe they are entitled to a celebrity’s performance at any cost to their health. 

In addition to harassing celebrities online, fans have been detained and reported for physically assaulting artists on stage. An article posted to The Guardian last August reads, “Harry Styles was hit in the eye with a sweet in Vienna, Bebe Rexha received stitches after she was hit in the face with a mobile phone in New York, and Pink was left stunned when someone threw their mother’s ashes on stage in London. In perhaps the most extreme incident, Ava Max was slapped mid-song by a concert-goer in LA.”

The explanation for these unnecessary acts most likely comes down to a desire for attention or social media virality. The man charged with assaulting Bebe Rehxa said he did so because he “thought it would be funny.” 

The same type of drive for the spotlight is why people also throw things at zoo animals, like viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng. This proves that singers are not people to these concert attendees. They believe if artists are not over-performing or giving the fans a shocking, recordable moment to go viral on TikTok, then they don’t deserve respect. The drive to gain praise and acclaim from strangers on the internet has now become top priority to people like this. Instead of enjoying the concert or event, it matters more to film something from that event which will earn them their fifteen minutes of fame.  

This is often why Taylor Swift fans start TikTok live streams to capture viral Eras Tour moments as opposed to living in the moment or taking a video of their favorite song for their eyes and memories only. Speaking of Swifties, they are not blameless in the destruction of concert etiquette. They often take it upon themselves to police every minor detail of another fan’s concert experience. Especially after the 2022 Ticketmaster fiasco where millions of fans were left without tickets due to the website crashing and a large number of scalpers snatching tickets. Eras Tour attendance became a very touchy subject among the community. My sister and I recall being extremely hesitant to let people know we were among those who got tickets because everyone had turned very hostile in their disappointment. 

Fast forward to August 2023, Swift announced 14 additional tour dates in Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Toronto. Fans who had been locked out of the first round of USA/Canada shows were imploring lucky fans not to go another time to give others a chance. Similarly, many European Swifties were frustrated with American Swifties flocking to countries like France and Sweden for the Eras Tour, saying they shouldn’t take away opportunities from European Swifties. 

“About 10,000 Americans attended the 17–19 May shows in Stockholm, which was the only Scandinavian city on the tour,” and about 20% of the four Paris shows’ attendance were American citizens. 

Although it can be disappointing to lose a concert ticket to someone not from your city, fans should recognize the desperation everyone feels to see their favorite artist. 

Lack of concert etiquette and  a new culture has caused people to bully and unfairly treat their favorite artists and fellow fans. Whether this is  a lasting result of quarantine causing people to forget how to act  in crowded spaces or social media leading to the dehumanization of artists and fans, people should remember how to treat others with respect and dignity. Concerts are supposed to be a place for everyone to feel free and safe, so let’s keep it that way.