Russ is responding to criticism after calling out fans at his Toronto show for allegedly faking a medical emergency to offer him an Indigenous medallion from a fan.
The rapper and R&B singer touched down in Toronto to perform in front of a crowd of nearly 10,000 people at Budweiser Stage on Saturday.
However, halfway through the show, fans attempted to pass the singer an Indigenous medallion as a gift. Videos online show the object being passed down the crowd to the front of the stage, in an attempt to hand the singer the object.
To get the singer’s attention, some of the fans began flashing lights, which led the singer to believe there was a medical emergency.
“Please don’t do it, cause I’m just gonna assume somebody’s passing out,” the singer said, stopping in the middle of a song to address the audience.
@russ I will not be gaslit ever. Being mad at my response to your disrespect and absolving yourself of accountability is peak gaslighting. Try it with someone else
♬ Forever – Russ
Shortly after, the 32-year-old addressed the crowd again, this time seemingly more upset due to the fans allegedly flashing their lights again.
“I’m trying to perform and you’re spending the whole show just trying to get me to look at some sh*t you’re holding up,” he said. “Respect the people around you, it’s not about you.”
The singer then walks off stage saying that he was pissed off, briefly stopping his show.
Russ later posted several videos on TikTok explaining his actions at the show and said earlier in the show someone passed out, which prompted people to wave their flashlights to stop the show so they could get medical attention.
He then says a few songs later audience members did the same thing, which prompted him to stop the show in fear another medical emergency took place, however there was none.
“That’s f**ked up to act like there was a medical emergency just to show something you made… you don’t care what I have going on, you don’t care about the performance,” he said.
Russ says he received criticism from fans who said it takes only a few seconds to accept a gift.
“I’m not up here to have side interactions,” he said.
@russ insane. I’m goin to bed man people are nuts.
♬ original sound – RUSS
The singer says he’s appreciative of the Indigenous community, and has accepted various gifts from Indigenous fans.
“I have no issue with Indigenous people,” he said.
Fans have taken to social media to defend the singer’s actions.
“He was not in the wrong here,” a TikTok user said.
“He absolutely had a right to be upset, that fan faked passing out,” another user said.
“He handled this very well, a terrible way to get an active performer’s attention,” another user said.
However, some fans believe he still should have taken the gift.
“He couldn’t stop for a minute but he could stop for five just to rant,” a TikTok user said.
“He stopped to rant, in that time he could have grabbed it and went on to perform,” another user said.
