Pharrell Williams reportedly ended his set at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 15 minutes early due to what he deemed unsafe activity from the audience.
The record producer took the stage for his scheduled performance at the Saudi Corniche Circuit in Jeddah on Saturday (March 9) — his set, however, din’t exactly go as planned. According to a report from Music News, the 50-year-old issued a safety warning after fans started throwing their light-up wristbands at the stage.
AD LOADING...
“This is the liveliest city right now on the planet but we have also got to be the safest,” he told the crowd, according to the outlet.
“I know you guys are excited and I know you are wanting to throw your wrist gadgets and lights and all that, but you can’t as the girls are dancing. And me? I love women, how about you?”
AD LOADING...
He continued: “We must protect our women, so if you want to throw them lights, you have to throw them the other way, not at the stage. Who understands what I’m saying? Let’s take those stupid wristbands and throw them in the air right now when I count to three.
When those in attendance didn’t comply, Pharrell walked off. As of now, no footage of the incident has been shared online.
Similar to the above incident, Kid Cudi also stormed off the Rolling Loud stage in 2022 after disgruntled Kanye West fans began throwing things at him after he was announced as a replacement for the Chicago native, who dropped out as the headliner at the festival’s Miami stop.
“If I get hit with one more fucking thing, if I see one more fucking thing on this fucking stage, I’m leaving,” he told the crowd at the time.
AD LOADING...
Just then, a water bottle soared past his head, prompting the Ohio rapper and singer to walk off stage.
Speaking to Zane Lowe on his Apple Music show weeks later, Cudi said of the incident: “It’s supposed to be an unspoken agreement amongst artists and fans, that you’re supposed to give the utmost respect and not interfere with the performance.”
