Man throws phone at Bebe Rexha mid-concert for 'fun', arrested for assault
In a shocking incident that unfolded during a concert in New York, a 27-year-old man has been arrested and charged with assault for allegedly flinging his phone at pop sensation Bebe Rexha.The incident abruptly ended the performance and sent the star to the hospital for medical attention.
As Bebe Rexha took the stage, the atmosphere quickly turned sour when a phone was hurled through the air, striking the side of the singer's head and causing her to collapse in agony. The audience reacted with gasps of horror as the visibly pained singer clutched her face, while her team rushed to her aid on stage.
Absolutely great show ruined by a fan throwing their phone at @BebeRexha hopefully she is ok after that pic.twitter.com/4eBScgurv5
— Alex Chavez (@captiv_8_) June 19, 2023
The disturbing incident was caught on video and swiftly shared online, generating widespread outrage among fans who condemned the act as a clear case of assault. The audience present at the concert also voiced their disapproval, unanimously denouncing the perpetrator's actions.
Sorry for the delay. Here is the full quality video of the guy that threw the phone at Bebe Rexha being removed. pic.twitter.com/7bkF1sFBYY
— BOSCH aka Big Purps (@IAmTheB0SCHMAN) June 19, 2023
Law enforcement authorities from the New York City Police Department arrested the perpetrator, now identified as Nicolas Malvagna from New Jersey, holding him responsible.
He has been booked with two counts of assault in the third degree, one count of harassment in the second degree, one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree and one count of attempted assault in the third degree.
According to Rolling Stone’s reports from The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, Malvagna not only confessed to throwing the phone but also stated,
As news of the incident spread, Rexha's fans expressed their concern and rallied around the beloved artist. The singer, despite her injuries, demonstrated resilience and strength, sharing photos of her bruised left eye and a cut on her eyebrow on Instagram the following day, captioned "I'm good," accompanied by a thumbs-up sign, reassuring her fans that she would persevere.
Bebe Rexha says “I’m good” after being hit in face with new model of “eye phone.” pic.twitter.com/KAihD2LqqI
— Mike Pears (@Mike_Pears) June 20, 2023
According to Pop Base, Rexha's mother revealed that the star sought medical treatment and required three stitches to tend to her injuries. The incident served as a reminder of the vulnerability faced by artists and performers, whose dedication to their craft can sometimes attract unwarranted acts of aggression.
Instances of objects being thrown at artists mid-performance are unfortunately not unheard of, with a few notable incidents capturing attention over the years.
One such recent incident involved Harry Styles, who has experienced fans throwing their phones on stage in the hopes of capturing a selfie or receiving a personalized interaction. While Harry Styles has been known to oblige and even call the owner's friends to leave a voicemail, he encountered an unexpected turn of events during a performance last November in Los Angeles when he was hit in the eye by a handful of Skittles. He had to take a break from the show to rinse his eye with water to alleviate the discomfort.
americans harry styles skittles ecc vi rompo il culo pic.twitter.com/ni8GkhUpgY
— elleou (@flowcherie) November 15, 2022
Another incident occurred during a music festival in Norway in 2004, where the late David Bowie was targeted by a fan with a lollipop in the eye. Bowie briefly retreated and received assistance from his crew before returning to the microphone to express his frustration and swear at the person responsible.
This day in 2004, an audience member hurls a lollipop on stage while David Bowie is performing in Oslo, Norway. The lollipop wedges itself in Bowie's left eye. Bowie halts the concert, has a mini rant and the lollipop is removed with thankfully no injury #DavidBowie #History pic.twitter.com/FkhL9sanpB
— Kenny (@kennylanglea) June 19, 2023
With his trademark wit, he humorously remarked on his one good eye, which he had from a childhood fight, stating, "Lucky you hit the bad one." Bowie then rallied and promised the audience an "even longer concert" as a form of retribution. Towards the end of the performance, he playfully threw a guitar pick into the crowd, jokingly asking if he had accidentally hit anyone in the eye.
As the legal process unfolds, the focus remains on supporting Rexha during her recovery from this traumatic event as she prepares to take her "Best FN Night Of My Life" tour to Philadelphia today.
LOS ANGELES!! tickets are still available for night 2 ✨https://t.co/l6SGY40ROf pic.twitter.com/lhydEWL3ik
— Bebe Rexha (@BebeRexha) June 12, 2023