GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Singer and songwriter Ray LaMontagne’s performance Wednesday night at Frederik Meijer Gardens gave fans more than they paid for when he stopped the show to curse out a couple talking near the front rows.
Holly Higginson wrote into FOX 17 and said she and her fiancée were talking about how they could not wait to dance to one of LaMontagne’s song at their wedding. Then Higginson said LaMontagne used the f-word several times, and went off-stage for a few minutes while the audience booed them.
And this is not the first time that the performer has called out his paying fans. At a 2011 show in Pittsburgh, he stopped singing mid-song to curse out some talking fans for about 20 seconds.
Now a debate trails on the Ray LaMontagne Facebook page, where fans are divided on what some are calling a “#Ray Freakout.” While many like Facebook user Emily King ask, “what’s the big deal about talking at a concert?” others like Marisa Demoor said, “if you came to talk, then don’t stand directly in front of the stage.”
In response to the show, Frederik Meijer Gardens released a statement:
“The on-stage interchange between Ray LaMontagne and two guests who were talking during last night’s concert was an unfortunate situation during an otherwise great concert. We have been in contact with the couple, who were cooperative and apologized for talking and disrupting the concert. Although we offered to move them to another part of the venue, they chose to leave on their own. We sincerely apologize to all of our guests for this disruption.”
The venue would not comment on whether or not the couple asked for a refund or if a refund will be issued.
