Image copyright Getty Images
The star was performing Kill You, a monitor from his 2000 album The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem brought about panic amongst some followers at the Bonnaroo music festival when a sound impact which gave the impression of gunfire was used at the top of 1 music.
Concertgoers screamed and ducked as a variety of loud blasts rang out through the star's efficiency of Kill You.
Speaking afterwards, some followers branded Eminem's efficiency on Saturday as irresponsible, given the current spate of deadly shootings within the United States.
However, a consultant for the star denied he had used gunshot effects.
"The effect used by Eminem in his set at Bonnaroo was a pyrotechnic concussion which creates a loud boom," the spokesperson stated in a assertion.
"He has used this effectas have hundreds of other artistsin his live show for over 10 years, including previous US festival dates, without complaint."
In one video of the set [NB: Language warning], a fan instantly dropped their telephone upon listening to the sound impact, which was accompanied by a vibrant flash from the stage.
Another concertgoer at the occasion in Tennessee stated they'd been pressured to go away the present due to the "panic".
"Being at a festival/concert in these current times brings new concerns & fears," wrote Cristi Williams on Twitter.
"Had to leave Eminem set after 3rd gunshot at @Bonnaroo cuz panic was setting in my section (front pit). Extremely realistic & scary! Would have been good to have a warning before show."
Social media star Andrea Russett, who additionally attended the festival in Tennessee, stated Eminem's set introduced her to "the point of tears".
"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," she posted on Twitter.
"This is the sad reality that we are living. This is not funny or even something to be joked about."
Less than a yr after Vegas and @Eminem thinks it’s a good concept to blast gun shot sfx onstage at a music festival? Bad name on this headliner @bonnaroo. What occurred to Radiate Positivity?
— Brad King (@BradKing32) June 10, 2018
Being at a festival/live performance in these present instances brings new considerations & fears. Had to go away @Eminem set after third gunshot at @Bonnaroo cuz panic was setting in my part (entrance pit). Extremely reasonable &scary! Would have been good to have a warning earlier than present. #irresponsible
— Cristi Williams (@ShadingLimelite) June 10, 2018
Shortly earlier than Bon Iver’s set, Eminem was utilizing pretend gun pictures all through the present. After the primary shot, nobody knew what was occurring. Although I rapidly realized it was a part of his set, there have been Parkland college students at the festival. I can’t think about what they felt.
— Stephanie Bourgeois (@stephanie_roseb) June 10, 2018
Others defended the 45-year-old, saying he had used gunshot sound effects all through his professiontogether with a efficiency at the Governor's Ball Music Festival in New York City final week.
"Eminem has done [this] for years," wrote a fan known as Molly. "His music is about abuse, he grew up w[ith] gunshots... this is real life."
"The Kill you outro gunshot has been part of The Eminem live shows since 2001," stated the fan account Mainly Eminem. "Why all of a sudden is Tennessee getting all cut up about it?"
are y’all actually that mad at eminem over a music from 2002 that has a gun sound impact
— j (@arcticsnessa) June 10, 2018
Eminem performing kill you at Governors Ball 2018 NYC
You can hear the identical sound at the top you idiots
Watch some Eminem efficiency earlier than going to 1 ???? pic.twitter.com/koCMykLNpo
— BIG Hawat (@eliohawat) June 10, 2018
But Ron Avi Astor, a professor at the University of Southern California, who has carried out analysis into mass shootings and violence, stated Eminem and different artists would possibly must re-evaluate the way in which they current their performances.
"One of the issues that comes up is that, he's been doing it for many years and so have others, but it has different meaning now," Astor informed Canada's CBC News.
"Artists need to ask what kind of responsibility they have when the norms of the culture change to the point that people are actually afraid of being shot."
He added: "They could warn the crowd or they could not do [the song]."
Eminem brings his tour to London's Twickenham Stadium in July.