Skip to main content
Tuesday, November 10, 2026Nov 10

From human ashes to cellphones, what’s going on with concert fans lately?

FILE - Pink performs at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 20, 2022. At a Pink concert recently, a fan tossed their mother’s ashes onto the stage as she was performing. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
FILE - Pink performs at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 20, 2022. At a Pink concert recently, a fan tossed their mother’s ashes onto the stage as she was performing. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) FILE - Pink performs at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 20, 2022. At a Pink concert recently, a fan tossed their mother’s ashes onto the stage as she was performing. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — From flinging bras to tossing flowers, concertgoers have long been a bit extra in showing adoration for their beloved artists — but a recent spate of artists being hit by weightier projectiles raises concerns about extreme fan culture and security.

Country singer Kelsea Ballerini was the latest artist to be struck by a flying object, Wednesday evening at a Boise concert. In the moment caught on video, Ballerini is playing her guitar onstage when a bracelet hits her face and she takes a step back.

Ballerini, clearly caught off guard, takes a moment before a brief intermission is called.

“Hi, i’m fine,” she later said on Instagram. “Someone threw a bracelet, it hit me in the eye and it more so just scared me than hurt me.”

Ashley Highfill, 30, was at the Idaho Botanical Garden show and said Ballerini seemed visibly upset. Highfill, who often attends concerts with her friends, said it’s become a normal occurrence to see fans throwing items onstage at concerts.