Gen-Z app TikTok has been accused of ruining concerts as wannabe influencers court artists’ attention, try to outsmart artists and do whatever it takes to garner content for a viral video.
With concerts back in full swing and megastars like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and Beyoncé taking to the road, wannabe influencers are flocking to concerts hoping to garner a viral moment for their TikTok followers.
Concert-goers have complained that other attendees aren’t so keen on pinning memorabilia that they were in the same room as the musician they’ve followed since childhood, but rather trying to convince the performers to do something for them that will explode on social media.
YouTuber Tyler Oakley reposted a TikTok on his Underwhelming Audience Twitter account belting out Billie Eilish’s lyrics louder than the singer herself, writing, “The way that sadly would ruin my entire experience.”
A concert-goer at a Billie Eilish concert (pictured) attempted to sing over the performer and “ruin” videos of Billie fans by drowning out the Ocean Eyes singer and holding the notes longer than she should
1975 singer Matt Healy ended up with a fan’s thumb in his mouth during one of his shows (left), while others abused the singer by grabbing his shirt and touching his neck (right). More videos of disruptive fans are hitting the internet as multiple wannabe influencers try to get a clip to go viral
A Billie fan captioned the video: “To the person who thinks they can outperform Billie and ruin all my videos.” In the 40-second clip, the concertgoer is the only person who hears the high-pitched scream, which drowns out the singer herself. She even belted out “oh” for much longer than Billie and other viewers.
In several other clips in the complication, the same woman continuously held notes longer than everyone else, annoying those around her with her crooked singing and long notes.
At a 1975 concert, Matt Healy — who was caught French kissing a fan during his show in January — also has fans and wannabe influencers sticking their thumbs in his mouth and immediately posting it online.
In a short video, several fans can be seen putting their hands on Healy and tugging at his unbuttoned shirt and neck while he leaned over and stuck a fan named Kayleigh’s thumb in his mouth.
Posting the moment on social media, she bragged about it, writing, “Matty Healy just sucked my thumb. Goodnight.”
When she was contacted on Twitter by LADbible, a British digital publisher that often distributes viral videos, about using her clip, the young woman didn’t even hesitate to let the company publish the video.
One fan didn’t hesitate to post a video of Phoebe Bridgers screaming into the microphone right in front of her. Unfortunately, her video only received 2,000 views early Wednesday morning
An I Prevail fan showed fans going after the opening act – Pierce the Veil, a band that formed in 2006 but has recently gained popularity on TikTok. Many I Prevail fans complained in the comments section that the fourth in the crowd to leave this “stole” tickets from real fans because he liked a song that went viral on the app
In November, “25 percent of the crowd” left after Pierce the Veil opened for an I Prevail concert.
“They weren’t lying when they said everyone was going to Pierce the Veil,” wrote TikTok user Chloe.
Fans in the comments section who didn’t get tickets complained that other TikTokers stole tickets from them just to go after the opening act. Pierce the Veil gained popularity due to the popular app even though it was founded in 2006, and commentators suspected they were leaving after just seeing the popular TikTok band.
,That makes me puke. “I Prevail” is a great show and these kids stealing tickets from fans like “King For A Day,” wrote a TikToker named Elle.
YouTuber Tyler Oakley said the disruptive crowds “ruined my entire experience.”
“I literally couldn’t get tickets because of these Bs,” wrote another.
In February, a fan was busy filming Phoebe Bridgers standing right in front of her as the singer screamed into the mic.
“Actually, I just can’t get over Phoebe Bridgers yelling in my face,” wrote the woman walking past Amy Belle on the platform. The clip has only been viewed a little over 2,000 times.
Others have even urged Bridgers to perform Taylor Swift songs — the indie singer will be joining the Cruel Summer singer for a couple of show dates on her tour later this year — as unexpected covers resonate better online than the given setlist.
“This fear of missing out, the need to be the first to post, has changed the dynamic of concert culture,” concert goer Karni Woods told The Wall Street Journal.
Woods also said the attendees teased Bridgers’ opening act and continued to yell and yell throughout the Grammy-winner’s performance.
Some artists, like Maggie Rogers, have begun to respond to disruptive fans and tell you, “It’s my time to sing. This isn’t your time to make noise – it’s not your space.’
Despite pleas, hundreds of videos of disruptive fans continue to surface online.