Adam Levine Defends ‘Startled’ Reaction to Fan Grabbing Him on Stage
Toni Anne Barson/WireImage Reading Time: 2 minutes
Former The Voice coach Adam Levine is defending himself after a fan jumped on stage and grabbed him during a Maroon 5 performance. Some had criticized the singer for his reaction to the moment, but Levine made it clear how “startled” he was by the incident.
Adam Levine Reacts to Fan Jumping on Stage to Hug Him
Maroon 5 was performing at the Hollywood Bowl’s We Can Survive event over the weekend when an excited fan jumped on stage and tried to hug Levine. The singer’s eyes were closed as he performed, and he was clearly surprised to be touched.
Video of the incident went viral on TikTok, showing security pulling the fan away from Levine as he curses and shakes his arms and legs. Some people took issue with what they saw as a disgusted reaction, claiming that Levine should be more appreciative of his fans.
However, plenty of people defended also Levine, explaining that the fan had no right to touch him without his consent, and suggesting that if the genders had been switched, the same critics would be outraged. Others pointed out that COVID-19 is still a risk.
“He doesn’t have to appreciate some rando grabbing him without his consent during a pandemic,” one Twitter user wrote in response to a tweet calling Levine a “douchebag” for his reaction.
@luispenaloza9525 Adam Levine was a whole mood yesterday💀 #Fyp #ForYou #Maroon5 #AdamLevine #Hollywood #HollywoodBowl
♬ Sunday Morning – Maroon 5
SEE ALSO: ADAM LEVINE GETS MIXED REVIEWS AFTER DEBUTING HIS NEW LOOK ON ‘THE VOICE’
Levine Defends His ‘Startled’ Reaction to Fan
Adam Levine himself took to Instagram stories this week to defend his reaction, saying, “I have always been someone that loves, respects, worships our fans. Without our fans, we don’t have a job. I say that all the time, to our fans. To think that anyone would believe that I thought that our fans were beneath us, or less than us, makes my stomach turn. That’s just not who I am. That’s not who I’ve ever been.”
The singer went on to say that he was “really startled” by the fan’s sudden presence, adding that “sometimes when you’re startled…you have to shake it off and move on.” He reminded fans that “I’m doing my job up there.”
Let’s all remember that celebrities are human beings, and they have as much right to personal space as anyone else. Being a fan of someone doesn’t give you permission to invade that personal space. Not to mention, there was no way of knowing what the fan’s intentions were. The situation could very well have turned dangerous.
Hopefully, Levine’s followers will listen to what he has to say and understand his side of things.
