British popstar Example has sparked major controversy and criticism after a video surfaced showing him berating a pregnant, disabled fan for remaining seated during his performance at London's O2 Arena.
The Confrontation That Sparked Outrage
The incident occurred while Elliot John Gleave, the 43-year-old artist known as Example, was performing as a warm-up act for boyband JLS on their 'The Club Is Alive: 2025 Hits Tour'. In a now-viral TikTok video, which has been viewed over 45,000 times, the singer is heard addressing the seated audience section.
"What are you doing? Get up out of your seat. You look stupid," Example said from the stage. The clip was posted by a concertgoer using the handle @kxrstyyx, who revealed in her caption that she was the target of his comments. She explained she was 27 weeks pregnant and has a disability, which necessitated her staying seated.
"Getting called out by @Example was not on my 25 bingo card… 'get out your seat' 'what you doing' 'you look stupid' sir am 27wks preggers and disabled," she wrote alongside the video.
A Pattern of Behaviour and Fan Backlash
Further comments under the video suggested this was not an isolated moment. Other attendees from different tour stops reported similar behaviour from the singer, known for early 2010s hits like 'Kickstarts' and 'Changed the Way You Kiss Me'.
"In notts the whole time he was complaining about people being sat down," commented user emilyyycox. Another, stephanie2509, added: "He was like this in Cardiff. he was fuming as everyone sitting down."
The online community quickly rallied to support the fan. Many shared their own experiences with chronic pain and mobility issues, expressing empathy and anger at the singer's insensitivity.
"No because as someone who has chronic pain i was crying for you when this happened i felt so bad," wrote xabsolutemuffinx. Another user, snorlaxowo, stated: "Me and my bf were laughing because I’m a wheelchair user and he was like ‘yeah get up and dance babe'."
Walking Aid Shown, Insult Repeated
The situation escalated further when the fan revealed she attempted to show Example her walking aid during the show. When a follower asked if she had held it up when the camera was on her, she confirmed: "I diddd he then proceeded to say I looked stupid."
This detail intensified the criticism, highlighting a profound lack of awareness from the performer. Attendee chana.18x confirmed the general rudeness, commenting: "I was there! I kept saying to the group I was with that I didn’t like him because he was being really rude!"
In a positive turn, the fan later told The Sun that she met the headline act, JLS, after the concert. She described them as "absolutely lovely" and said they complimented her for painting her walking aid in their band colours.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater awareness and inclusivity at public events, especially for individuals with visible and invisible disabilities.
