Singer Example has sparked controversy and accusations of rudeness after an awkward incident at a London concert, where he told a pregnant and disabled fan to stand up and dance.
Confrontation at the O2 Arena
The blunder occurred on Tuesday 2 December 2025 at the O2 Arena in London. Example, whose real name is Elliot John Gleave, was performing as a special guest for pop band JLS. During his hit song 'Changed the Way You Kiss Me', the musician reportedly singled out a fan who remained seated.
The fan, named Kirsty, later shared footage of the moment on TikTok. She explained that she was 27 weeks pregnant and has a disability, which was why she was not standing. In the video, Example can seemingly be heard calling her 'stupid' for sitting down and urging her to 'get up and dance'.
Fan reaction and similar past incidents
The TikTok post quickly drew comments from other concert-goers, who agreed that Example's behaviour was 'rude'. Several users claimed the singer had acted in a similarly insensitive manner at other shows.
This incident uncomfortably echoes a similar blunder by Madonna last year. The pop icon was forced to apologise after she inadvertently scolded a wheelchair user for sitting during her performance. The parallel has heightened criticism of Example's on-stage conduct.
Awaiting a response
The Independent has contacted a representative for Example seeking comment on the incident. As of now, the singer has not publicly addressed the fan's video or the ensuing criticism.
For Kirsty, the experience was deeply disappointing. She described feeling 'gutted' after being mistakenly called out during a gig she had been eagerly anticipating.
