Pharrell Williams ended a performance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 15 minutes earlier than planned. The reason: The audience kept throwing glowing bracelets at him.
The Formula 1 event took place on March 9th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Williams was one of the headliners of the event alongside Alicia Keys and Martin Garrix after racing at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. But the musician had to cancel his gig sooner than planned because the visitors didn’t stop throwing their glowing ribbons onto the stage and all his attempts at de-escalation came to nothing.
Williams didn’t seem confident
“This is the most vibrant city on the planet, but we also need to be the safest. I know you’re excited and I know you want to throw your light bracelets and all that, but you can’t because there’s already dancing here,” the singer said to the crowd during the show, also referring to his dancers on the stage, whose safety he also seemed worried about.
He continued: “We have to protect our women and if you want to throw lights, you have to throw them the other way – not at the stage. Who understands what I’m trying to say? Let’s take these stupid bracelets and throw them in the air when I count to three. And now we’re done.”
However, after the people didn’t listen to him and continued to use their projectiles despite his warning, the 50-year-old stormed off the stage with the words “OK, I’ll leave you all alone for a while” and didn’t return.