The singer and songwriter had to receive stitches after being struck in the face with a cell phone during a performance in New York last year
Some concerts feature disclaimers about flashing lights or pyrotechnics that might be startling to audience members. But Bebe Rexha‘s shows, in particular, come with a different kind of warning. During a recent appearance in Green Bay, the singer and songwriter reminded the crowd about the consequences of throwing items at her after multiple audience members were removed for doing so.
“If you want to hit me in the face, I had them press charges to the other guy,” Rexha said on stage. “I would love to become richer.” Last year, she had to receive stitches after being struck in the face with a cell phone during a performance in New York. The attendee, Nicholas Malvagna, admitted to throwing the phone at Rexha, explaining that he was “trying to see if I could hit her with the phone at the end of the show because it would be funny.”
The incident was one entry on a long list of bizarre occurrences at live events in the last year or two, which included a fan throwing a bag of ashes on stage at a Pink concert and Harry Styles being pelted in the eye with Skittles during one of his shows. Despite social conversation around proper concert etiquette evolving in light of these instances, which seem to have spiked following the post-pandemic return of live music, audiences don’t seem to have learned their lesson.
But these attacks and attempts at landing a viral moment come with a cost. Malvagna was charged with two counts of assault in the third degree, one count of harassment in the second degree, one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree, and a count of attempted assault in the third degree. Earlier this year, he accepted an offer to have his charges dismissed if he completes 40 days of community service and does not violate an order of protection for six months.
