DETROIT, USA – In an act that demonstrated her commitment to the safety of her fans, R&B singer Monica put a halt to her Detroit performance at the Riverfront Music Festival to confront a man who was assaulting a woman in the audience.
The moment of valour happened on Saturday, July 22, 2023, evening and has since gone viral, reinforcing her fans’ respect for her both as an artist and a person.
Amateur video footage from the concert shows Monica, known for her hit “The Boy Is Mine,” jumping off the stage to warn the man involved in the incident. Amid the shock and chaos, she defended the woman, proclaiming, “You don’t hit no fuckin’ lady like that.”
Fans rallied behind Monica’s decisive action, with security guards scrambling to follow her into the crowd. The man was quickly ejected from the venue.
After the confrontation, Monica returned to the stage, apologising to the audience for her outburst.
“That shit triggered me,” Monica confessed. “I seen him punch that lady in the face, I lost my fuckin’ temper. I apologize ya’ll. I apologize from the bottom of my heart.”
The ’90s hitmaker, still visibly agitated, further admitted, “I was gonna knock [his] ass out with this fuckin’ mic.”
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Addressing the incident on The Shade Room’s Instagram on Sunday, Monica expounded on the emotions that stirred her into action. She expressed regret for her heated reaction but noted that watching the woman being hit deeply triggered her.
“It appeared to be about space during a packed concert!” she wrote. “He punched her with all his strength! My intentions were to prevent her from being hit again and she wasn’t! I asked for help, it fell on deaf ears! It was like seeing my mother or an aunt be assaulted!! This woman was 50+ I pray she’s ok!”
The Riverfront Music Festival spoke highly of Monica in a statement to CBS News. Spokesperson Andrus Macdonald praised the singer’s bravery and commitment to her fans’ safety. “We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Monica for her courage and decisive intervention during an unfortunate incident at our Festival,” he said.
He further remarked, “Her actions demonstrated a commitment to the safety and respect of her fans, reinforcing our belief that she is not just an extraordinary talent, but an extraordinary individual as well.” Macdonald also mentioned that the festival’s organizers are working with law enforcement to hold the attacker accountable.
This incident isn’t the first time Monica has had to restore order during a concert. During a performance in Washington, D.C., in April, she told unruly audience members to “calm that shit down” or take their issues outside.
While such an incident starkly contrasts the unity and joy concerts typically bring, Monica’s decisive action against violence and in defense of her fans only strengthens her image as a fiercely protective and empathetic artist.
