Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, professionally known as Burna Boy, became the subject of intense online debate following his decision to remove a couple from his Wednesday night concert in Denver, Colorado, after catching them sleeping during his performance.
The Grammy Award-winning artist abruptly halted his set midway through the show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre when he spotted a female concertgoer dozing off in the front row. Addressing the woman’s companion directly, the “Last Last” singer issued a firm ultimatum that left the audience in stunned silence.
“When I stand up here on the stage and see you over there with your girl sleeping in the front of me, it pisses me up. So, please, take her home. Walahi, I’m not performing another song till you go home,” Burna Boy declared from the stage, his frustration evident.
The couple initially showed reluctance to leave the venue, particularly the female attendee. However, as the “African Giant” crooner remained adamant and the crowd began urging them to exit, security personnel eventually escorted both individuals out of the amphitheatre. The concert resumed only after their departure, with Burna Boy continuing his high-energy performance to cheers from the remaining audience members.
The incident has generated polarised reactions across social media platforms. While some fans have criticised the internationally acclaimed artist for ejecting paying customers who had purchased tickets to attend his show, others have defended his stance, arguing that performers deserve engaged and energetic audiences, especially from those occupying premium front-row positions.
This confrontation represents the latest in a series of similar incidents involving the 33-year-old musician and his concert attendees. In 2019, during a performance in Atlanta, Georgia, Burna Boy sent a fan home for displaying what he deemed insufficient enthusiasm during his set. More recently, at the 2025 Lagos Countdown concert, he physically removed a starstruck fan who jumped on stage to embrace him, later explaining that such actions trigger his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, during a show in Lusaka, Zambia, he confronted an audience member who allegedly attempted to steal his ring.
Born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Burna Boy has established himself as a global ambassador of Afrobeats music, with critically acclaimed albums including “African Giant” and “Love, Damini” earning him international recognition and a Grammy Award. His insistence on maintaining lively, interactive atmospheres at his performances has become a defining characteristic of his concerts, though it continues to spark conversations about the boundaries between artist expectations and audience behaviour at live entertainment events.