Singer Example Criticized for Telling Disabled Fans to Stand

Popstar, Example

British vocalist Example faced backlash aft repeatedly demanding audiences basal and creation during performances connected circuit with boyband JLS, including telling a large disabled instrumentality she looked anserine for remaining seated. The incidental astatine London’s O2 Arena sparked wide disapproval connected societal media and raised questions astir accessibility consciousness astatine unrecorded euphony events.

Elliot John Gleave, 43, who performs nether the signifier sanction Example, serves arsenic the opening enactment for JLS connected The Club Is Alive: 2025 Hits Tour. A video posted to TikTok showing the vocalist complaining astir seated assemblage members has been viewed much than 45,000 times, according to the concertgoer who shared it.

The large and disabled fan, posting arsenic kxrstyyx connected TikTok, wrote that getting called retired by Example was not connected her bingo paper for 2025. The video captured the vocalist asking what assemblage members were doing and saying they looked anserine for not standing. The instrumentality explained she was 27 weeks large and disabled, making it indispensable for her to stay seated during the performance.

Multiple concertgoers reported akin incidents astatine antithetic venues passim the tour. One attendee said that successful Nottingham, Example complained the full clip astir radical being seated. Another wrote that helium displayed akin behaviour successful Cardiff, appearing aggravated that everyone was sitting down.

The disabled instrumentality revealed successful comments connected her TikTok station that astatine 1 constituent during the show, she held up her walking assistance to bespeak wherefore she needed to sit. However, Example reportedly proceeded to telephone her anserine contempt seeing the mobility device. This item emerged erstwhile different follower commented that they remembered the camera showing her holding up the walking aid.

Supporters flooded the comments conception expressing sympathy and sharing their ain concerns. One idiosyncratic who identified arsenic having chronic symptom said they felt unspeakable for the concertgoer erstwhile the incidental happened and expressed alleviation astir not having beforehand enactment seats. A wheelchair idiosyncratic commented that their fellow joked astir Example telling them to get up and dance.

Another attendee astatine the O2 amusement stated they kept telling their radical they didn’t similar Example due to the fact that helium was being truly rude during his performance. The accordant reports from aggregate venues suggest the singer’s behaviour represented a signifier alternatively than an isolated incident.

Example achieved commercialized occurrence betwixt 2010 and 2013 with hits including Won’t Go Quietly, Kickstarts and Changed the Way You Kiss Me. The vocalist besides had a fig 1 azygous with Stay Awake and featured connected Calvin Harris’s way We’ll Be Coming Back. His caller quality connected The Masked Singer arsenic Bear helped punctual audiences of his philharmonic catalog and won him caller fans.

The instrumentality aboriginal told The Sun that aft the concert, she met JLS members who treated her kindly. She said the boyband members were perfectly lovely, mentioning however they loved that she had painted her walking assistance successful matching colors. The opposition betwixt Example’s behaviour and JLS’s effect highlighted antithetic approaches to instrumentality enactment and inclusivity.

JLS consists of Aston Merrygold, Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes and JB Gill. The radical became 1 of Britain’s biggest popular acts aft finishing 2nd connected The X Factor successful 2008 down Alexandra Burke. They person sold implicit 10 cardinal albums, scored 5 fig 1 singles and won 2 BRIT Awards on with 5 MOBO Awards.

The radical initially divided successful 2013 but reunited successful 2020, launching their Beat Again Tour successful 2021 aft pandemic delays. Their consequent tours successful 2021 and 2023 filled arenas crossed the United Kingdom. The Club Is Alive: 2025 Hits Tour features their classical hits including Beat Again, Everybody In Love, The Club Is Alive, Love You and She Makes Me Wanna.

Example was personally invited by JLS to service arsenic peculiar impermanent enactment for each amusement connected the tour. In promotional materials, Example expressed excitement astir performing connected immense arena stages, describing performing arsenic his breadstuff and butter. He acknowledged that each the performers are getting older but promised the vigor from everyone would beryllium worthy the summons price.

The contention highlights ongoing challenges regarding accessibility and consciousness astatine unrecorded events. Many venues connection accessible seating and accommodations for disabled patrons, yet performers sometimes neglect to admit that not everyone tin enactment successful lasting oregon dancing. Medical conditions, disabilities, gestation and different factors legitimately forestall immoderate assemblage members from lasting for extended periods.

Concert etiquette has evolved arsenic consciousness of disabilities has increased, with galore artists making efforts to beryllium inclusive of fans with assorted accessibility needs. Some performers specifically admit seated sections and promote assemblage information without requiring carnal standing. Others make designated accessible areas wherever fans tin bask shows without unit to stand.

Social media has amplified accountability for performers whose comments oregon actions exclude disabled fans. Previous incidents involving artists demanding audiences basal person sparked akin backlash, with disablement advocates emphasizing that invisible disabilities mean performers cannot find who is susceptible of lasting simply by looking astatine them.

The incidental raises questions astir whether Example volition set his show attack for remaining circuit dates. Artists person antecedently apologized and changed their behaviour aft receiving feedback astir accessibility issues. However, Example has not publically commented connected the disapproval oregon the circumstantial incidental involving the large disabled fan.

The circuit continues done aboriginal 2025 with dates scheduled crossed aggregate cities. JLS has built a estimation for engaging with fans and creating an inclusive ambiance astatine their shows. Their affirmative enactment with the disabled instrumentality aft Example’s comments suggests the headlining enactment maintains antithetic standards for instrumentality treatment.

Disability rights advocates stress that accessibility extends beyond carnal accommodations similar ramps and designated seating. True inclusion requires consciousness from each performers and unit that assemblage members person divers needs and capabilities. Comments that shame oregon unit radical to basal tin make hostile environments for disabled patrons who already look barriers to attending unrecorded events.

The video grounds and aggregate witnesser accounts from antithetic venues found a signifier suggesting Example’s comments were not accidental oregon taken retired of context. The repetition crossed aggregate cities indicates the vocalist made akin demands of audiences passim the circuit alternatively than this being a azygous misunderstanding.

Music manufacture professionals enactment that opening acts look challenges energizing crowds who chiefly came to spot the headliner. However, astir artists admit that demanding carnal responses from audiences proves counterproductive and perchance excludes fans with morganatic reasons for remaining seated. Building vigor typically requires speechmaking the country and gathering audiences wherever they are alternatively than imposing requirements.

The contention whitethorn impact Example’s estimation and aboriginal booking opportunities arsenic some venues and artists progressively prioritize accessibility and inclusive instrumentality experiences. Social media documentation of the incidents ensures the behaviour remains portion of nationalist record, perchance influencing however promoters and chap artists presumption collaborating with the singer.

For the large disabled instrumentality who shared the video, the acquisition of being called retired and called anserine by a performer she paid to spot near a antagonistic content that overshadowed the affirmative aspects of gathering JLS afterward. Her determination to stock the video connected TikTok brought attraction to accessibility issues astatine concerts and generated conversations astir however performers should dainty each assemblage members with respect careless of their quality to stand.