Joe Bonamassa criticizes toxic online guitar culture after recalling Nick Jonas backlash

Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa believes online criticism has created an unhealthy culture for musicians, arguing that every mistake made on stage is now magnified by social media.

In a recent interview, Bonamassa reflected on the harsh reaction to Nick Jonas’ widely discussed guitar performance at the 2016 ACM Awards, saying the incident illustrates how toxic online commentary can become and why musicians deserve more understanding when live performances don’t go perfectly.

Bonamassa says online critics have become ‘armchair quarterbacks’

Speaking with Guitar Interactive Magazine, Bonamassa compared many online critics to sports fans who believe they could perform better than professional athletes.

“In the U.S., we have this term called ‘armchair quarterback,'” he explained.

According to Bonamassa, the same mentality now exists in the guitar community, where social media users quickly criticize performers without understanding the pressure of playing live.

He argued that musicians are routinely judged for isolated mistakes rather than appreciated for their overall performances.

Nick Jonas’ 2016 performance became a lasting example

Bonamassa pointed to Nick Jonas’ appearance with country singer Kelsea Ballerini during the 2016 ACM Awards.

During the nationally televised performance, Jonas made mistakes while playing a guitar solo, and clips of the moment quickly spread online.

The performance generated thousands of comments, reaction videos and jokes across social media.

Bonamassa believes the response far exceeded the mistake itself.

“We’ve all done that,” he said, referring to missed notes during live performances.

He questioned whether critics expected musicians to be punished indefinitely for one imperfect moment.

Jonas later revealed the experience affected his mental health

Several years after the performance, Jonas spoke publicly about how deeply the criticism affected him.

He admitted the backlash eventually led him to seek therapy.

“In retrospect, I can kind of laugh about how big I thought it was,” Jonas said.

He also recalled suddenly losing his concentration during the performance despite extensive rehearsals.

“I hit a wrong note and blacked out,” Jonas explained. “I clocked that it was wrong and I couldn’t stop.”

His comments highlighted the emotional impact that intense public scrutiny can have on performers.

Bonamassa says music isn’t a competition

Beyond individual mistakes, Bonamassa also criticized the tendency for fans to turn collaborative performances into contests.

He referenced playing alongside fellow guitarists Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Warren Haynes, saying those performances are meant to celebrate music rather than determine a winner.

According to Bonamassa, musicians themselves enjoy sharing the stage and learning from one another.

Fans, however, sometimes treat the performances like competitive guitar battles.

He questions the ‘winner versus loser’ mindset

Bonamassa joked that some audience members seem to expect someone to win every jam session.

“What do they expect?” he asked.

“A trophy at the end? A cash prize?”

He argued that viewing every performance through the lens of competition undermines the collaborative spirit that has long been part of blues, rock and guitar music.

Instead of comparing musicians, Bonamassa believes audiences should appreciate the unique styles each performer brings to the stage.

A call for more empathy in the music community

Bonamassa’s comments reflect broader conversations about social media, criticism and mental health within the entertainment industry.

Live performances have always included occasional mistakes, but today’s technology allows those moments to circulate globally within minutes.

For Bonamassa, the solution is simple: remember that even accomplished musicians are human.

Rather than celebrating errors or turning performances into competitions, he believes fans should focus on supporting artists who continue putting themselves on stage in front of live audiences.

Featured Image: instagram.com/joebonamassa, instagram.com/nickjonas