Fans at Halsey’s recent Washington, D.C. stop of her Back to Badlands Tour witnessed a disturbing moment that has since gone viral.
According to The New York Post, during her performance at The Anthem on November 4, the 31-year-old artist was singing from the stage’s front barrier when an audience member reached up under her skirt and touched her without consent.
Halsey was performing “Is There Somewhere” at the time, leaning close to the crowd as she often does during live shows.
Video captured from the venue shows a fan placing their hand on her thigh, then slipping their hand further beneath Halsey’s leather skirt. A security guard, positioned along the barricade, immediately intervened and pushed the concertgoer’s hand away. Halsey continued performing and appeared unaware of what had occurred.
Clips of the incident circulated widely online, drawing strong reactions from viewers. One fan account on X wrote, “Respect Halsey and DO NOT touch her or anyone like this without their consent.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, with responses calling the behavior “gross,” “disgusting,” and “unacceptable.” Many users called for the audience member to be banned from future shows.
Representatives for Halsey have not commented publicly on the incident.
Halsey, born Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, has been on the road since mid-October. The Back to Badlands Tour began in Los Angeles and is scheduled to continue through February, with stops across the U.S. before heading overseas. Following the D.C. performance, she continued with scheduled shows in Minneapolis and Chicago.
The incident comes shortly after Halsey experienced a “minor medical emergency” in Boston the week prior, which led to brief hospitalization at Massachusetts General Hospital.
She later told fans she was okay and intended to continue performing, writing in her Instagram Stories, “Minor medical emergency, but I am A-Okay now and ready to rock tonight! but if I’m pacing myself, that’s why!”
The individual who groped Halsey has not been publicly identified.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, support is available. You can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit RAINN.org for confidential resources and assistance.