Miranda Lambert appeared unfazed by the backlash she received for calling out a fan during one of her recent concerts. The country music star, who is currently performing at a Vegas residency, made headlines when she abruptly stopped her show last week to confront a fan snapping a “selfie” during her performance of “Tin Man.”
Lambert, noticing the fan taking a photo, paused her performance and addressed the crowd: “I’m going to stop for a minute,” she said, directing her comments at the woman in the audience. Lambert scolded the fan for focusing on her phone instead of enjoying the music.
“I’m a little annoyed that these females are preoccupied with their selfie and aren’t listening to the song. I’m sorry, but I really dislike it. Tonight, we’re here to listen to some country music. I’m performing some damn country music,” Lambert continued, as the woman put her phone down. The audience cheered in support of Lambert’s stance against “selfie-takers.”
Later, after another performance, Lambert paused her show once again when she spotted a fan wearing a t-shirt that read, “Shoot tequila, not selfies.” Lambert reportedly found the shirt amusing and pointed it out to the crowd, saying, “I didn’t do it; she did!”
This public shaming drew mixed reactions from fans. Some applauded Lambert for standing her ground, while others criticized her for humiliating her supporters. One social media user called out the singer, saying, “How to humiliate and shame your devoted fans who love you.” Others felt that taking a photo during a concert was part of making memories and should have been allowed.
One of the fans Lambert called out, Adela Calin, later shared her side of the story. Calin, who took a quick selfie before returning to her seat, explained that the photo only took about 30 seconds. She admitted feeling “appalled” by Lambert’s public reprimand. “It felt like I was back at school, with the teacher telling me to sit down again in my place and reprimanding me for doing something wrong,” Calin said. She went on to express that she and her friends, all women in their 30s to 60s, were simply trying to capture a memory, not act immature or disrespectful.
While Lambert’s actions may have divided opinions, they have certainly sparked a debate about fan behavior and artist expectations at live shows.
