Erykah Badu isn’t one to fake the vibe — and during a recent concert, the neo-soul legend made it clear she expects her audience to match her energy.
In a viral clip circulating online, Badu is seen strolling across the stage mid-performance before abruptly signaling her band to cut the music. She then turned her attention to the front-row fans, calling them out for sitting motionless during the show.
“I’m not doing s— else until these people stand up,” Badu said, pointing directly at those seated closest to the stage. She zeroed in on one fan in particular. “Especially you. You get your ass up. Where she at? Did she leave? Good.”
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But the moment didn’t end there. Badu then shifted her gaze to another audience member who had apparently been giving her a cold stare the entire night.
“Some n—a over here trying to mean mug me the whole time in the front row with his arms folded,” she joked, drawing laughter. “You paid your money to do that? Thank you.”
Her playful but pointed call-out sent the crowd into hysterics, and once the energy lifted, Badu picked the performance right back up — proving once again that she’s a master of controlling the room.
Fans online have been loving the moment, applauding Badu for protecting her space and refusing to perform for a disengaged crowd. Others joked that being publicly scolded by Erykah Badu might be the spiritual reset they didn’t know they needed.
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