Smartphones have completely changed the way we experience concerts today. For some people, it’s all about capturing memories with selfies and videos to share with friends. But for others, those glowing screens can feel like they’re stealing away the magic of truly being in the moment.
And no one feels more strongly about this than country superstar Miranda Lambert. Her no-nonsense approach to selfies at her concerts has stirred up plenty of talk, both among her fans and on the internet.
Miranda Lambert’s bold opinion on concert behavior has sparked a lively debate about what’s appropriate for fans at live music events.
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The controversy started after she publicly called out a group of people taking selfies during her performance of “Tin Man” at her Las Vegas Velvet Rodeo residency last year.
As Miranda began singing the emotional hit at the Bakkt Theater, she noticed two girls snapping selfies and immediately stopped the music. She addressed the crowd, and her frustration was clear.
“I’m gonna stop right here for a second,” she said. “These girls are worried about their selfie and not listening to the song. It’s p***ing me off a little bit.”
Miranda was visibly upset and added, “I don’t like it, at all. We’re here to hear some country music tonight; I’m singing some country damn music.” She then told the group to sit down and suggested they could start the song again.
A video of the moment quickly went viral on TikTok, and thousands of people chimed in with their thoughts. Some fans supported Miranda’s decision to speak out, while others weren’t as forgiving.
“Way to embarrass and shame your loyal fans who adore you,” one Twitter user wrote. Another person commented, “She could’ve poked fun and posed in the selfie and then encouraged them to be in the moment after that. Not cool.”
Others felt Miranda’s reaction was rude. “I think her reaction was a bit rude and uncalled for,” one tweet read.
But not everyone agreed with the criticism. “Now you can’t take pictures at concerts? These people need to get off their high horse,” said one Twitter user, while someone else argued, “Going to a concert is about creating a memory. If someone wants to take a picture, they should be able to.”
The online debate was filled with divided opinions. Some fans insisted that constant phone use takes away from the shared experience and the authentic energy of live music. On the other hand, others believed that fans should be able to capture moments however they choose.
One of the fans involved in the incident, Adela Calin, later spoke out about her experience. She explained that she and her friends had only taken a selfie for about 30 seconds, and she was “appalled” by Miranda’s reaction.
“It felt like I was back at school with the teacher scolding me for doing something wrong,” Calin said in an interview with NBC News. “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, Adela posted photos on her Instagram showing her and the other women smiling for the camera, with Miranda performing 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 incident didn’t end there. At another concert, Miranda Lambert spotted a fan wearing a T-shirt that read, “Shoot tequila, not selfies,” and gave them a playful shoutout.
She pointed to the fan, read the shirt out loud to the audience, and they clapped enthusiastically. It was her first time publicly addressing the selfie controversy, and while some fans thought it was funny, others felt like Miranda was still holding onto her no-selfies stance.
“Wow! Can’t believe this was her response to her rudeness,” one person wrote online.
Miranda isn’t the only artist who has taken a stand against phone use during concerts. In recent years, several musicians have spoken out about fans being too focused on their phones instead of enjoying the live experience.
In 2019, Bob Dylan made headlines when he abruptly stopped a show in Vienna after spotting a fan taking photos, despite having a strict “no photos” policy. Similarly, Beyoncé had a funny but clear moment in 2013 when she noticed a fan filming her during “Irreplaceable.”
She 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!”
Cyndi Lauper, too, took a firm stance during her 30th-anniversary tour for She’s So Unusual, reminding fans at the start of each show not to take pictures or film. Alicia Keys goes a step further by having fans place their phones in special pouches during her concerts to prevent distractions.
And then there’s Jack White, who boldly stated, “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 Jack White and other artists like him, the message is clear: put the phone down and live in the moment.
This trend of addressing fan behavior isn’t limited to phone use. Artists are also speaking out about other disturbing behaviors, like fans talking loudly or constantly moving around during performances. Adele recently made a humorous comment about how fans have been throwing things at performers.
“Have you noticed how people are, like, forgetting show etiquette at the moment, throwing (things) onstage? Have you seen it?” she asked jokingly.
Bebe Rexha was less amused when she was hit by a phone during a performance, which left her injured. The incident raised serious concerns about safety for performers.
Similarly, Kelsea Ballerini paused her show after being hit by a bracelet, and Harry Styles has dealt with numerous incidents of fans throwing items at him.
These situations highlight the growing issue of blurred boundaries between fans and performers, fueled by a culture obsessed with capturing viral moments and taking selfies.
So, what’s next for concert culture? With incidents like these becoming more common, fans and artists alike are beginning to rethink the unspoken rules of live music.
Should fans put their phones away and experience the concert without distractions? Or should artists accept that modern audiences will want to document everything?
For Miranda Lambert, the situation seems clear. She has no regrets about how she handled the incident. “I feel like I’ve done a bunch and learned a whole lot of what not to do,” she said in an interview with Taste of Country.
“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.”
Miranda’s been through a lot, and she’s trying to focus on being herself and learning from her experiences. “It 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 be able to take pictures and selfies during concerts, or should they put their phones down and enjoy the show without distractions? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
