Eminem Is Criticized for Gunshot Sound Effects During Bonnaroo Performance

Eminem made his triumphant return last year with his new album Revival and has seemingly headlined just about every major music festival since then. It all hasn’t been completely positive as he recently drew a lot of criticism from festival-goers on social media who were in attendance at his headlining performance at Bonnaroo this past weekend and were startled by the rapper’s use of very realistic sound effects that resembled gunshots.

Many fans were petrified and ducked for their lives in the crowd after a string of loud blasts rang went off during Eminem’s performance of “Kill You,” from his 2000 album, The Marshall Mathers LP. The nervous reaction stems from the paranoia many concert-goers share after the mass shooting during the country music festival Route 91 in Las Vegas last year.

Social media star Andrea Russett was in attendance at the performance and expressed the same opinion that many shared:

“I hate to be the one to say it, but being someone who suffers from very mild PTSD, it was EXTREMELY irresponsible and distasteful to end songs w the shot gun sound effect,” Russett tweeted. “I have grown up loving eminem and his music but i was extremely triggered to the point of tears.”

Below are some responses to his set on social media.

coming from a performing stand point, i get the effect of sound effects on stage, but there’s a certain point that cross’s the line. i’m one of eminem’s number 1 fans but to hear 3 gun shots coming straight from his set had me scared af. not gonna lie. especially in this world…

— M (@macykatemusic) June 10, 2018

Honestly, fuck Eminem. Added gunshots to his set. Had to leave. So disgusting and distasteful. Shame on you.

— Bella Lowery (@helloitsbella) June 10, 2018

Eminem has ended Kill You with the gun shot effects for (at least) 6 years now and this is the first time someone ever complains

— Laia (@onlyslimshady) June 10, 2018

A spokesman for Eminem responded to the allegations by saying:

“Contrary to inaccurate reports, Eminem does not use gunshot sound effects during his live show. The effect used by Eminem in his set at Bonnaroo was a pyrotechnic concussion which creates a loud boom. He has used this effect – as have hundreds of other artists – in his live show for over 10 years, including previous U.S. festival dates, without complaint.”