Nicki Minaj has joined the list of music stars who have had objects hurled at them while performing for their fans. During her concert in Detroit on Sunday, rapper Minaj narrowly avoided being hit by an unidentified object thrown by someone in the crowd.
The incident, which was captured in a video posted by Pop Crave on X, occurred during her Pink Friday 2 world tour. During her performance of “Starships,” Minaj quickly reacted to block an object thrown at her, then crouched to pick it up and threw it back into the audience.
The incident left her visibly shocked. Minaj, 41, now joins other celebrities who have faced similar occurrences during their performances. During a concert in October 2022, Harry Styles was hit in the groin by a bottle, causing immediate discomfort. He responded with a wince and remarked into the microphone, “Now that’s unfortunate.”
During her concert at the Rooftop at Pier 17 in June 2023, Bebe Rexha was struck on the forehead by a phone thrown by Nicolas Malvagna.
Malvagna was subsequently arrested on multiple misdemeanor charges, including two counts of third-degree assault, attempted third-degree assault, and second-degree harassment.
During his arraignment, Malvagna claimed he was trying to get Rexha, 33, to take a photo with his phone during the concert, but accidentally struck her, leaving her bloodied with a black eye and requiring stitches, the New York Post reported.
Manhattan prosecutors revealed Malvagna’s statement to police, alleging he was attempting to participate in a TikTok trend by throwing his phone at the singer.
“It’s a TikTok trend where you throw your phone onto the stage, and a celebrity passes it and takes a selfie,’” Malvagna told arresting officers, according to a prosecutor.
“‘I thought she was looking in my direction. I was about two rows back, but instead of my phone landing right next to her, my phone hit her in the face,’” Malvagna allegedly told cops.
“This trend of throwing things at performers while they are onstage must come to an end. It’s so disrespectful and very dangerous. Please just enjoy the music I beg of you…” Charlie Puth wrote on X after Rexha, Ava Max, and Kelsea Ballerini were also hit during concerts.
Adele had reason to complain about the growing trend. During a show at the Colosseum in Las Vegas last year, Adele said, “Have you noticed how people are forgetting f–king show etiquette at the moment. People are throwing s–t onstage. Have you seen that? I f–king dare you — I dare you throw something at me. I’ll f–king kill you.”
She added: “Stop throwing things at the artist … These people have lost it.”
In July 2023, Billie Eilish told the Hollywood Reporter, “I’ve been getting hit onstage with things for like, literally, six years, I don’t know why this is like new. People just get excited and it can be dangerous.
“We get it, but don’t do it,” she went on, admitting that it’s “absolutely infuriating” for an artist standing in front of blinding lights to have a foreign object come flying at them from out of nowhere.
“Don’t throw things onstage,” she urged.
