Patti Labelle rushed off stage at US concert over ‘bomb threat’
Patti LaBelle, the American singer, was rushed off the stage during a concert in Wisconsin in the United States over reported bomb threat.
The 78-year-old songstress was performing at a Christmas concert in Riverside Theater in Milwaukee on Saturday when the show came to an abrupt end.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Warren Allen Jr., the Milwaukee police captain, confirmed the incident in a statement.
Allen said everyone was safely evacuated from the event venue, adding that there is an ongoing investigation.
“Regarding the bomb threat in the 100 block of W. Wisconsin, all patrons have been safely evacuated. Police are clearing the facility at this time. The investigation is fluid and ongoing,” the statement reads.
“The building was searched by K9 units. No explosive devices were discovered. There is no threat to the public at this time.”
In now-viral footage of the incident, the musician, born Patricia Louise Holte, was seen having a conversation with a member of the audience.
The ‘On My Own’ crooner was also seen receiving a bouquet of flowers from another fan in the front row.
Her session with the fans, however, ended as two men believed to be security operatives stormed the stage and escorted her off in a dramatic manner.
In the ensuing melee, the musician was seen screaming “wait”.
In a Facebook live session, Catherine Brunson, one of the people who graced the concert, said the drama started when someone raised a bomb alert while the show was on.
“Somebody got on a microphone and said we have to evacuate the building because there was a bomb threat,” Brunson said.
“We came out and police had the block taped off. … A whole lot of people were pretty upset. … It’s scary.”
