Celebs Who Were Attacked by Fans in Public

Fame creates access, but access can become dangerous when boundaries disappear.

Most fans are respectful. They buy tickets, support projects, and help stars build long careers. But in rare cases, people cross the line through stalking, stage invasions, thrown objects, or direct physical attacks.

Monica Seles

Monica Seles was one of the most dominant tennis players in the world when she was attacked during a match in Hamburg, Germany, in 1993.

The attacker was not a fan of Seles, but an obsessed supporter of her rival, Steffi Graf. He stabbed Seles during a changeover, hoping to affect the rankings. Seles survived, but the attack interrupted her career and kept her away from professional tennis for more than two years.

Christina Grimmie

Christina Grimmie, known from YouTube and The Voice, was attacked after a concert in Orlando in 2016.

She was signing autographs and meeting fans when a man approached her and shot her. Grimmie later died from her injuries at age 22. Her brother tackled the attacker, and police later praised his actions.

Rebecca Schaeffer

Rebecca Schaeffer was a rising actress known for My Sister Sam when she was killed by an obsessed fan in 1989.

The attacker had stalked her and eventually found her home address. Schaeffer’s death helped push changes in anti-stalking laws and restrictions around access to private address information.

John Lennon

John Lennon’s death is one of the most devastating fan-related attacks in music history.

The former Beatle was shot outside his New York apartment building in 1980 by Mark David Chapman, who had become obsessed with him. Lennon died at age 40, leaving fans around the world in grief.

Bebe Rexha

Bebe Rexha was injured during a 2023 concert in New York City when an audience member threw a phone at her face.

Police said the phone was thrown intentionally, and the man was arrested and charged with assault. Rexha was taken to a hospital after the incident.

Ava Max

Ava Max was attacked onstage in Los Angeles in 2023, shortly after the Bebe Rexha incident.

A man rushed the stage and struck her, scratching her eye. Max later said the person would never be allowed at one of her shows again.

Beyoncé

Beyoncé was nearly pulled off stage by a fan during a 2013 concert in São Paulo, Brazil.

While performing “Irreplaceable,” she bent toward the crowd and a fan grabbed her around the waist, pulling her toward the audience. Security intervened quickly, and Beyoncé continued performing with remarkable composure.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber had a frightening stage incident during a 2013 concert in Dubai.

A fan rushed the stage while Bieber was playing piano and grabbed him. Security tackled the intruder, and the piano was knocked over during the scramble. Bieber was not seriously hurt and returned to finish the show.

Britney Spears

Britney Spears was shaken during her Las Vegas residency in 2017 when a man rushed the stage.

Security and dancers quickly stepped in, and the man was removed. Police later confirmed the intruder had been arrested for trespassing.

Noel Gallagher

Noel Gallagher was attacked during an Oasis performance in Toronto in 2008.

A man rushed the stage and shoved Gallagher, causing injuries that included broken ribs. The attacker later pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm.

Harry Styles

Harry Styles has been hit by objects thrown from audiences during concerts.

During his Love On Tour run, reports noted multiple incidents, including objects being thrown toward him onstage. These moments became part of a wider pattern of fans tossing items at performers in the hope of getting attention.

Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini was hit in the face by an object during a 2023 concert in Boise, Idaho.

She briefly left the stage before returning and addressing the crowd. Reports said fans believed the object may have been a bracelet.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish has also dealt with unsafe fan behavior during performances.

She has been listed among artists affected by the growing trend of objects being thrown at performers, and the issue has become a common concern across major concerts.

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton was struck by an object thrown from the crowd during a 2026 concert in Madrid.

Reports said a vinyl record hit him in the chest near the end of the show. Clapton appeared to continue, but he did not return for the expected encore.

Oli Sykes

Oli Sykes, frontman of Bring Me the Horizon, was injured during a 2026 concert in St. Louis when a phone thrown from the crowd hit him in the head.

Reports said he suffered a mild concussion and the band adjusted the set after the incident.

Riley Green

Country singer Riley Green was hit by a phone thrown by a fan during a 2026 concert in Melbourne, Australia.

He later shared that he needed five stitches after the object struck his ear. Security removed the person involved.

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