Country music star Miranda Lambert (via Instagram)Self-styled social media “influencer” Adela Calin wasn’t prepared when country music star Miranda Lambert stopped her show to ask the “influencer” to stop taking selfies (with a flash) during an emotional song in the singer’s set in Las Vegas.
From my good friend John Katsilometes, entertainment reporter extraordinaire at the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
“Miranda Lambert got on that stage, and we were like, ‘Oh, this is the time we can do our group picture,’ and we asked a lady to take our picture,” Calin said in a phone chat Tuesday morning.
“We waited until a new song started and the lights came back on, and we took a couple more pictures. As soon as we were getting ready to sit down, we realized the concert stopped and I see Miranda Lambert pointing at us, and saying, ‘Sit down, sit down.’”
“I’m gonna stop right here for a second… sorry,” she [Lambert] said in a video initially posted by @redneckinvegas. “These girls are worried about their selfie and not listening to the songs is pissing me off a little bit. I don’t like it, at all. We’re here to hear some country music tonight. I’m here singing some country dang music.” Lambert then mouthed “sit down” and motioned for the group to do just that.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CuzN9oOrDH3/
This was the pic the women took – standing up, turning their backs to Miranda, using A FLASH, and blocking the view of the audience behind them – during “Tin Man,” a song about divorce.
Note: The venue allows photos during performances but has a clear policy about no flash photography during the show.
Calin told Katilometes that she sees her attempt at being a social media “influencer” as a “hobby” on her fashion site and her Instagram.
Originally from Romania, she’s lived in Las Vegas for 5 years. And while she speaks English fluently, she admits she doesn’t “understand English words in songs.” And while she likes the Lambert songs that she knows, she’s not “deeply familiar” with the country star’s catalogue.
Here’s Miranda’s response in the middle of her ballad:
‘I don’t like it – at all. We’re here to hear some country music, and I’m singing some country damn music!’
Miranda stops Tin Man to call out girls who are more concerned with taking selfies than listening to the music 🫡 pic.twitter.com/6BKnUskeZz
— Miranda Lambert Fan (@ranfancentral) July 16, 2023
And another angle of the moment:
Different view of the Miranda Lambert show-stopping moment at her show at Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood on Saturday. Six women, taking multiple selfies, with flash, VIP section, backs to the stage. I get her frustration. This is ridiculous. #RJNow @reviewjournal pic.twitter.com/vZcMDIsH9p
— John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) July 18, 2023
First, have respect for the artist. You aren’t there to listen to a record.
Second, taking pics at the right moment wouldn’t be soooo bad, but taking the pics (WITH FLASH – A FLASH THAT WAS HEADED STRAIGHT AT HER) in the middle of her very emotional song is wrong and extremely distracting.
And third – think about the people whose view you might be blocking. They might have wanted to focus on the performance, but you chose to stand up, block their view, take pics with a FLASH and ruin their moment as well.
Most people online have applauded Miranda, but some people with little life experience say Adela paid for the tix, so she should be able to do what she wants.
They are wrong.