Spiritbox frontwoman Courtney LaPlante has issued a detailed statement defending her decision to halt the band’s performance at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix, Arizona on July 15th. A violent concertgoer was ejected from the venue during the show. The incident sparked online criticism from those who misinterpreted the situation as LaPlante simply removing a fan for moshing, prompting the singer to clarify what actually transpired.
The situation involved far more serious behavior than typical pit activity. An older, intoxicated man was punching other concertgoers in the head repeatedly during the performance. This occurred in the small amphitheater VIP pit, targeting people who were facing the stage. LaPlante emphasized that this behavior was not appropriate or enjoyable for anyone present at the show.
Security had been alerted multiple times before LaPlante made the decision to stop the performance. The final removal became necessary after these earlier interventions failed. “Three times we told security about him so that was the final straw and I’m glad I did it, he wasn’t moshing,” LaPlante stated.
LaPlante acknowledged the online backlash and the misunderstanding that arose from limited initial reporting. Her initial on-stage comments could have been misinterpreted by those unfamiliar with the full context. She expressed understanding for those who formed negative opinions based on incomplete information. “I wasn’t thinking about the internet when I stopped the show,” she explained.
The incident unfolded during Spiritbox’s set as the opening act for Evanescence. Drummer Zev Rose first noticed the disruptive behavior in the crowd. LaPlante refused to continue the performance until the aggressive attendee was identified and removed by security. The band was preparing to launch into their final song “Soft Spine” when the frontwoman brought proceedings to a halt.
LaPlante addressed the “karate” comment that had drawn particular scrutiny online. She explained it was intended as a light-hearted remark to ease tension rather than a serious characterization of her actions. “I think it was just because of my ‘karate’ comment, I was trying to make a light joke to kind of break the tension, people were really freaked out by that guy punching kids in the face,” she clarified.
She reframed the situation by noting that Spiritbox was a guest on the Evanescence tour. This emphasized the rock show context of the event. “I also called it a rock show, bc it IS—we are opening for EV. I’m a guest in their house,” LaPlante said.
The singer concluded by acknowledging the broader criticism while maintaining her conviction in the decision. “So I get that it’s easy to dunk on us, with the info actually provided. It is what it is, the person who already thinks I’m lame and not a part of this culture isn’t crazy to assume from the article that I kicked someone out for moshing, and I will survive another day.” Her response underscores the importance of context in understanding live music incidents and the responsibility artists feel toward protecting their audiences from genuine threats to safety.
