Eminem’s Bonnaroo set on Friday night has been drawing criticism from festivalgoers who panicked over the rapper’s use of sound effects that some fans said resembled gunshots.
“Contrary to inaccurate reports, Eminem does not use gunshot sound effects during his live show,” the rapper’s spokesperson said in a statement. “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 other artists — in his live show for over 10 years, including previous US festival dates in 2018 without complaint.”
During his headlining set at the music festival held in Manchester, Tenn., the noises were heard as Eminem performed his song Kill You from The Marshall Mathers LP, which caused some fans to panic.
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In one video taken during the performance, a fan drops their phone as soon as a loud noise is heard. Others can be heard screaming.
(Warning: This video contains explicit language.)
Following the 45-year-old rapper’s performance, some fans took to social media to share their outrage.
“Less than a year after Vegas and @Eminem thinks it’s a good idea to blast gun shot sfx onstage at a music festival? Bad call on this headliner @bonnaroo,” one social media user wrote, referencing last year’s deadly shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas.
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Social media star Andrea Russett was one of many in attendance at the festival who claimed to be traumatized by the sounds during Eminem’s set.
“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.”
She continued, “To hear a gun shot sound effect and see the entire crowd drop to the floor out of instinct is not funny, cute, or amusing. this is the sad reality that we are living. this is not funny or even something to be joked about.”
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Others began to point out that Eminem has always used those sound effects during his performances.
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