Diana Ross invited two fans onstage to dance during“Upside Down”at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on August 28, and one of them turned the moment into something nobody asked for. Video shows the woman touching Ross’s thigh, grabbing her wrist, patting her backside and hip, and leaning in to kiss her cheek. Ross shut it down with a flat“No kissing,”then called for help:“Come get her. Come get her.”Venue staff escorted the woman away and the performance continued without a beat.
The footage didn’t surface online until September 24, which means the internet’s reaction came nearly a month after the show. What’s fueling the conversation is that this isn’t a one-off. In 2019, Ross dealt with a similar onstage encounter in New York City. Same artist, same problem, six years apart, which raises real questions about how closely venues monitor fans who get pulled into the spotlight.
Most of the response has centered on two things: how quickly Ross regained control of the moment, and why it took her signaling for security before anyone stepped in. Fan-onstage moments are a beloved concert tradition, but they only work when there’s a clear boundary. Ross protected hers and kept the show moving.
Do you think artists should keep inviting fans onstage, or is it time to retire the tradition?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.