Burna Boy, ‘the sleeping fan’, and the backlash

It’s no news that in the last few weeks, Burna Boy’s recent decision to pause his show mid-performance and send out a fan he believed was sleeping sparked one of the loudest conversations in Afrobeats this year. The video which went viral on social media triggered widespread criticism, with many questioning what performers owe their audiences.

Although it might not be his first backlash in the industry, it might just be the one that forces him to work better on his audience management skills. Following his outburst with a ‘sleeping fan’ in Colorado, Grammy-winning Afrobeats star, Burna Boy has come under serious fire from fans worldwide.

The controversy all began on November 12, 2025, at Burna Boy’s North American “No Sign of Weakness” happening at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. Minutes into his performance, the star paused after spotting a woman in the front row apparently asleep. He pointed at the couple, demanded the woman be removed and refused to continue until she and her companion were escorted out.

The fan, later identified as Chaltu Jateny, said she attended the concert hoping to escape her grief after losing her daughter’s father, adding that she bought the ticket with her own money. In an X post, she wrote, “I have been mentally, physically and emotionally drained since my daughter’s dad passed away and I came to his show to put a smile on my face after everything that has happened. He took forever to come out and I was tired.”

“We paid to be there and if I wanted to close my eyes and sleep, I could do that. It is my money that I wasted, not his. And for all of you in the comment section being nasty, how about showing kindness because you never know what someone is going through?” she added.

In an attempt to respond, the African Giant took to his social media to rant, stating that oftentimes he’s misunderstood: “I was joking around with my band about some other element. Not always this situation and y’all have spun it as usual, announcing, ‘Burna Boy doesn’t love his lovers.’ In case you hate me so much, either kill me or leave me alone. I’m combating my personal battles… I love who loves me and respect who respects me.”

Defending his actions at the Colorado event, the artiste further said, “If you make the pilot uncomfortable in a aircraft you purchased a price ticket for, you’ll be deboarded or arrested… You pay school fees but you will be kicked out of sophistication in case you make it uncomfortable for the instructor to do his job.”

He ended his rant saying, “I sincerely apologise if I’m incorrect; I’m no longer continually right but I feel right about this.”

The video ignited immediate criticism online, with many viewers calling the public shaming humiliating. Within weeks several U.S. stops were marked cancelled and organisers confirmed refunds; major outlets reported that Minneapolis and Chicago dates were pulled, and multiple pieces linked falling ticket sales and poor attendance at some shows to the viral backlash.

This would not be the first incident where Burna Boy has been accused of being rude or acting nonchalant with his fans. During a Lagos performance in 2024, he kicked a fan off the stage and attributed his action to a case of untreated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) triggered by fans rushing the stage.

The artiste has also been  accused of being arrogant and disrespectful towards his home-country fans, with many stating that he “gets away with a lot here” in Nigeria and won’t treat his foreign fans with the same level of disrespect. In a recent Instagram Live, the artiste stated, “I’m only looking for fans who have money these days,” a comment which further angered his fans.

Online reactions

As the video and issue continue to trend, many have taken to social media to share their opinions, with some supporting his actions and others applauding the backlash that has followed his actions.

On X, @inkpharm wrote, “Self-absorbed, childish, and emotionally unintelligent. That’s what Burna Boy consistently proves to be. You find someone sleeping at your show. You didn’t think maybe they took out time to be here after a long, draining shift. Maybe they’re unwell. Maybe it’s not about you.”

@ManLikeIcey said, ‘I can’t pay for a concert and the artiste will ask me to leave because I was sleeping and I’ll go. That’s not possible; the worst should happen. The artist must end the concert. Btw, Burna Boy isn’t a likeable character at all. Narcissistic, arrogant and very violent.”

@AfamDeluxon wrote, “Burna Boy might be one of the most disappointing superstars we’ve had in a long time. When you know your core audience is largely international, how do you behave like that and make no real effort to correct it? What kind of self-destruction do we call this?

@Ol0ye said, Burna Boy will learn in real time that his bad behaviour will not be tolerated abroad. There’s a reason even A-list artistes pander to their fans. The only people who will tolerate that nonsense are the people who were raised to see abuse as a fact of life.”

@GuyMr0 said, ‘At this point, Burna Boy should just come out and drop an apology video for this lady and his entire fanbase—both at home and abroad. His downfall at a time when he’s selling out stadiums is not a thing of joy. Any wrong move, and he may never recover from it again.”

However, @jon_d_doe said, “That Burna walked out on a sleeping fan from his concert is not the real anger of the people. The real anger is that he’s the first to dare to be different. And damn the consequences. A sleeping fan seated on the first row can demoralise him & make him perform poorly.

Fans, show promoters speak

While the incident sparked humour for some online, more fans and show promoters who spoke with Weekend Trust described the moment as unnecessary, insensitive, and harmful to the relationship between performers and their audiences.

Sani Kabir said the video left him unsettled. He said, “It didn’t sit right with me,” he said. “People come to shows for different reasons. Some travel long hours; some come straight from work. Someone dozing off shouldn’t be seen as disrespectful.”

Another fan, Ruqayya Isha, expressed empathy for the young woman involved. She said, “When I watched the clip, I felt embarrassed on the lady’s behalf. She was probably exhausted. Publicly calling her out was unkind. He could’ve ignored it and kept performing.”

Another fan, Zack Timothy, said the whole scenario made him think about the power imbalance between artists and fans. He said, “Artists sometimes forget people idolise them. One statement from them can break someone down. She probably came excited, and that moment turned into humiliation,” he said.

Blessing Ene said the issue was less about Burna Boy personally and more about how Nigerian stars view their audiences. “This isn’t just about Burna, it’s about how some celebrities feel entitled to perfect energy at all times. Fans are human. You can enjoy the music and still feel tired.”

A Lagos-based promoter, Ferdinard Okon, said the situation will definitely have commercial consequences. He said, “Many fans save for months to attend these shows. Public embarrassment destroys trust. If an artist trends for the wrong reason, promoters and sponsors feel the effect first.”

Another promoter, Adaeze ‘AdaofLagos’ Nwachukwu, described the incident as a reminder of how easily an artist can misread a situation.

She said, “In properly managed events, artists focus on performing. Crowd management is handled by the team. When the artist reacts emotionally, things escalate unnecessarily.”

She added that performers should remain aware of the emotional weight they carry.

“A fan’s night can be made or ruined with one comment. That’s why sensitivity is important.”

Kule Akinyemi Jr, who specialises in outdoor festivals, said the entertainment industry now operates under the watchful eye of social media, therefore making it important for both organisers and promoters and even the artists to ensure that fans receive their money’s worth.

“Optics really matter now. One viral moment can affect ticket sales. Artists and organisers need to show more humility. It’s part of the business now.”

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