A British musician has found himself at the centre of an awkward controversy after an on-stage interaction at a major London concert went badly wrong. Rapper and singer Example, whose real name is Elliot John Gleave, inadvertently called out a fan for sitting down during his performance, unaware she was both disabled and heavily pregnant.
An Awkward Moment at The O2
The incident occurred at the iconic O2 Arena in London on Tuesday, 2 December 2025. Example, 43, was performing as a special guest for pop band JLS. During a rendition of his hit song "Changed the Way You Kiss Me", he turned his attention to the audience seated near the stage.
Footage shared on TikTok shows the artist demanding, "Get out of your seats!" He then appears to look directly at the fan filming, Kirsty, and says, "What are you doing? You look stupid." The clip quickly circulated online, drawing widespread attention and criticism.
Fan's Response and Wider Backlash
In the caption of her TikTok video, Kirsty explained the situation, writing: "Getting called out by Example was not on my 25 bingo card… Sir I am 27 [weeks] preggers and disabled." She later told The Sun that she had a far better experience with the headline act, JLS, who complimented her for painting her walking aid in the band's colours.
The video prompted a flood of comments from other concert-goers who witnessed the exchange. One claimed, "I was FUMING about this! He was so rude and wouldn’t let it go." Another added, "I heard him say later in the concert, 'Even this pregnant woman is standing'. I had no idea he peer-pressured you into standing that’s so wrong."
Further criticism emerged from fans who attended other shows on the tour, with claims of similar behaviour in Nottingham and Cardiff. One viewer commented, "He was fuming as everyone [was] sitting down."
A Recurring Problem for Performers?
This is not an isolated incident in the live music world. The situation echoes a similar blunder made by pop icon Madonna just last year. During one of her concerts, she scolded a fan in a wheelchair for sitting, before quickly realising her mistake and apologising, calling herself "politically incorrect."
The episode highlights the challenges performers face in reading an audience and the potential for serious missteps when encouraging crowd participation. The Independent has contacted a representative for Example seeking comment on the incident at the O2 Arena.
For fans like Kirsty, the experience was marred by the unexpected public call-out, turning what should have been a celebratory night into an uncomfortable and very public misunderstanding.
