WHAT WENT DOWN
Spiritbox vocalist Courtney LaPlante stopped the band's set one song early in Phoenix and refused to continue until security removed a fan who was punching people outside the pit. Drummer Zev Rose spotted the violence from his kit and flagged LaPlante mid-show.*†
THE DETAILS
- The incident happened July 15 at Spiritbox's opening slot for Evanescence in Phoenix, with Nova Twins also on the bill.*
- LaPlante halted the show before final song "Soft Spine," told the crowd "we're not gonna play another song…until we make sure everybody out there is safe,"† and asked fans to point out "the fucking freak that's hurting everybody."*†
- According to social media accounts, the fan was punching people and forcing mosh behavior in the middle of the crowd, not in the designated pit area.*
- The crowd chanted "kick him out" while LaPlante checked on the victim: "Are you okay, bud? I know that you didn't mean to draw attention, I'm sorry."†
- Security escorted the fan out, LaPlante told the remaining crowd "this isn't [a] damn gold medal karate match,"† and the band finished their set.†
THE TAKE
LaPlante used her platform to protect someone getting hurt rather than finish the setlist and deal with it later. Fan-shot footage circulated online days after the show.*
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