Image via Complex Original
For some strange reason, fans sometimes get it in their head that it's a good idea to jump on stage when an artist is performing. We have no idea what possess them to do something so reckless—though if we had to guess, we'd say it's probably a combination of drugs, alcohol, and general stupidity. We know what happens when fans come on stage: They get tossed off. Simple as that. If a fan made it to the stage, it means security wasn't doing their job. But once you're on stage, security is quick to make up for their previous shortcomings. In other cases, the artists take matters into their own hands.
We can't speak for the old days, but we'll go ahead and assume that people have been running up on stages ever since stages have existed. However, in the last 10 years or so, camera phones have become apart of every day life. And in the past few years, camera phones from being totally crappy to pretty decent. So much so that it's impossible to go to a show and not see a sea phones in the air. Sure, it's annoying as hell (it's also pointless and ruins the show but that's another story) but when someone runs up on stage, best believe someone catches it and posts it to YouTube within hours. So thanks to all those grainy videos we can bring you A Recent History of Fans Getting Bodied On Stage...
Written by Brian Brooks
RELATED: 20 Legendary Hip-Hop Concert Moments
RELATED: The 50 Best Selling Rap Albums of All Time
Akon
Date: May 2007
Mr. Lonely himself had some company on stage at a concert held in Poughkeepsie, NY. During the show, an unidentified object was thrown in the singer's direction, which prompted him to locate the kid responsible and invite him onstage. Embarrassing the kid in front of an entire audience was not punishment enough. The singer used this opportunity to show off his muscles, lift the kid over his head, and throw him back into a sea of people.
Jay Z
Date: March 2010
A stage-crasher was sent flying at a Jay-Z show in Washington D.C. Jay and Memphis Bleek were midway through a performance of "U Don't Know" when someone joined the two rappers onstage. Immediately following, Jay's well-dressed security guard took it upon himself to remove the intruder. With ease, he pushed the crasher to the edge of the stage and threw him in the direction of a fellow security guard. Unfortunately, the man on the ground was unable to make the catch, which resulted in a pretty nasty spill.
Kid Cudi
Date: July 2010
Cudi was performing in his hometown of Cleveland, OH when a fan jumped on stage to assist him in the singing of "Pursuit of Happiness." Unfortunately for the stage-crasher, he was viciously removed by two security guards. After taking a few seconds to compose himself, Cudi rejoined his audience in the singing of his fan-favorite track.
Rick Ross
Date: December 2010
God may forgive a stage-crasher, but Rick Ross certainly won't. At a live performance in Ghana, a fan gets absolutely pummeled after attempting to join the Miami rapper on stage. Several security guards grabbed hold of the intruder and tackled him to the ground where he was eventually punched in the face. Next time he'll think twice before he tries to hug the biggest bawse.
Wiz Khalifa
Date: June 2011
During a show in Lake Tahoe, Wiz took some time between songs to discuss one of his favorite pastimes. According to the Pittsburg rapper, it's cool if you roll up some weed before his show. But when it comes to an audience member jumping on stage...not so cool. Before the crasher could gather himself on stage, he was flattened by a security guard who had been watching the situation develop. The hit he took was more brutal than anything you'll see on any given Sunday. That Steeler defense could definitely use a guy like this...
Lil Wayne
Date: September 2011
All this fan was trying to do was show some love for his favorite rapper. The crasher approached with opened arms, inviting an unimpressed Wayne to return the favor. In a blink of an eye, the intruder was gone. Security guards pounded the interloper to the ground, ultimately preventing the "How to Love" rapper from expressing any semblance of love in return. Weezy then gave some sound advice to the remaining members of his audience: "You don't want that to happen to you."
Keri Hilson
Date: October 2011
Kerri Hilson once sang, "Sometimes love comes around and it knocks you down." But at a performance in Pairs during her "No Boys Allowed" tour, Hilson was seized by a fan whose only crime was exhibiting a little too much love for his favorite singer. Unwilling to separate himself from Hilson, the stage crasher was knocked out by security and removed from the venue. Looks like love isn't the only thing that can knock you down.
Yelawolf
Date: January 2012
If you jump on Yelawolf's stage, he's going to punch you in the face. It's as simple as that. Just don't do it. You've been warned.
DMX
Date: January 2012
"We don't stop the music for shit!" That's what DMX had to say after a fan attempted to choke him during his show in Long Beach, CA. One thing's for sure: no matter what happens on that stage, X gone give it to ya.
Nicki Minaj
Date: July 2012
Nicki's security guards absolutely abuse this fan for grabbing hold of the Young Money rapper. It just proves something we think goes without saying: You don't mess around with Nicki Minaj's waist.
Odd Future
Date: December 2012
During a show in San Antonio, Odd Future ran into some trouble on stage. 17-year-old Chassan Rafati claims that his favorite hip-hop crew "beat him up" after he decided to join them. According to OF and several other eye witnesses, the fan jumped onto the stage where he may have pushed or punched rapper/producer Hodgy Beats. Seconds later, a fight broke out between all of OF and the one stage crasher. The audience was completely supportive of OF, yelling "WOLF! GANG!" as the brawl took place.
Waka Flocka Flame
Date: April 2013
Live in Montreal, Waka Flocka Flame was oblivious to the fan that decided to join him on stage. One man, however, was prepared to take matters into his own hands and promptly threw dude off stage.
Justin Bieber
Date: May 2013
Thousands of little girls in Dubai held their breath this past May when Justin Bieber was attacked onstage. A crazed fan ran straight toward the pop star, knocking him to the ground. High-pitched screams erupted throughout the venue but Justin was unharmed. Security took care of the crasher, and the Biebs continued his performance.
Action Bronson
Date: June 2013
In case you didn't know, Action Bronson is a pretty big fan of wrestling. When a fan ran up on Action, he hit dude with a damn body slam. Guess watching all that TV paid off.
Action Bronson
Date: August 2013
Guess Action's fans didn't learn their lesson after he body slammed that one dude. This time around, another fan came up on stage and it ended much like the last time someone ran up on Action. Except this time he used a hip toss.
Vampire Weekend
Date: August 2013
Lead signer of Vampire Weekend Ezra Koenig seemed distracted when a fan joined him and his bandmates onstage. One man, however, remained unfazed. Amidst the chaos at the band's Lollapalooza gig, their security guard tackled the crazed fan to the ground, restoring the peace for the remainder of the show.
Wiz Khalifa
Date: August 2013
We hope the Wiz Khalifa fan enjoyed the three conscious seconds he spent onstage with Wiz. Because, by the looks of it, he took a brutal hit from one of the rapper's security guards that likely knocked him out cold. Immediately following the hit, Wiz commanded his audience to "make some fucking noise!" Which they did, but we doubt the laid out fan could hear it.