Man Accused of Rape at Keith Urban Concert While Others Watch
A Keith Urban concert in Mansfield, Mass on Saturday made national headlines when 55 people were arrested, 22 were taken to the hospital, and a total of 46 were treated by medical staff in what fire officials characterized as a “mass causality” event, having to call in ambulance crews from several other communities to help deal with the incident. The “Raise ‘Em Up” tour stop at the Xfinity Center also featured Jerrod Niemann and Brett Eldredge. Now the story of an alleged rape in the venue’s upper lawn is telling a deeper story to the moral depravity and transpired at the event.
According to the Sun Chronicle, 18-year-old concertgoer Sean Murphy allegedly raped a 17-year-old girl during the concert, while 15 or more concert attendees stood around and watched, many taking pictures and video of the incident. It ended when a woman attending the concert asked the girl if what was happening was consensual, and she said, “No,” and the woman pulled the suspect off the girl who then fled. Apparently Sean Murphy stood around for a short period, looking for positive acknowledgement from the crowd that had gathered about what happened, before disappearing into the lawn crowd. The girl’s friends took her to police, and the gates to the concert were temporarily closed until Sean Murphy could be found and detained.
Sean Murphy did not know the girl previously, and the two met at the concert according to police. They began kissing near a concession stand before moving to the lawn area. According to the young girl, she went with Sean Murphy because “she was afraid of what would happen” if she didn’t go. Both teens had been drinking at the concert.
According to Sean Murphy and his lawyer Neil Crowley, the sex was consensual. The lawyer pointed out that in the police report there was no mention of force being used in the incident. He said his client cooperated with police during the investigation. According to police, they overheard Sean telling his parents he “messed up” over the phone. Police have also obtained footage and photos of the incident from witnesses.
“This was a consensual act, not a sexual assault. There are no allegations of force or violence put against him,” Crowley said in a statement. “This was a private act that regrettably occurred in a public place. Mr. Murphy deeply regrets this incident and I’m sure the young woman does as well.”
Sean Murphy lives with his parents who posted the $10,000 bond for the teen. Murphy has no prior arrest record. He is scheduled to be back in court September 25th.
The news comes as reports of arrests and intoxication-related injuries seem to be on the increase at country music concerts. Along with the Keith Urban concert, a Jason Aldean concert on July 18th saw 35 attendees arrested, and a man was later found dead in a dumpster. Similar numbers marred a Luke Bryan show in Pittsburgh earlier this summer. Whether the reporting is better or there truly is an elevated rash of unruly patrons at country concerts, the topic has become a hot button issue in country music. This rape allegation, and the response from many in the crowd to sit back and watch, take pictures, and video the incident is likely to take the debate to a new level.
After the concert, Keith Urban posted a short video thanking the Mansfield fans. “Gosh, up on the lawn tonight? That was nutso,” Keith says. Apparently he didn’t know the extent of how “nutso” it got.
***UPDATE (7-31-14): Keith Urban has finally released a statement about the numerous incidents at the concert.
“My team and I were horrified to learn of the events reported in Boston this past weekend and our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected. This type of behavior stands in stark contrast to the spirit of our shows.” Keith
July 30, 2014 @ 10:01 am
This is horribly sad news. Something has to be done about these concerts. I don’t how an artist can be proud of having so many fans that are unruly and downright immoral. I’m not saying all fans are, but there seems to be a good bit of bad apples in these crowds. They have to beef up security at these concerts before it gets even worse.
July 30, 2014 @ 10:26 am
That kind of reminds me of what Fred Durst said about attendees at a Limp Bizkit concert. How their fans were all bullies and jerks, or something to that effect. I’m not a fan but that was surprisingly insightful.
July 30, 2014 @ 10:41 am
This is horrible. These shows, shows like Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, etc… should be able to be attended by families. There is no reason someone should feel like they couldn’t take their kids to see a show like this, but you just cannot do it.
July 31, 2014 @ 6:39 pm
I was just thinking today that it would be nice if these artists would do a family night every once in a while – a no alcohol event.
July 31, 2014 @ 9:04 pm
No alcohol? then what would the artists sing about? drinking a water on the tailgate. lol
If they don’t have alcohol the attendees might realize the music they’re listening to is trash. Have the be drunk to enjoy a Luke Bryan or Jason Aldean concert.
November 12, 2024 @ 5:24 pm
It’s a damn shame,PARENTS NEED TO RAISE THEIR OFFSPRING WITH BETTER MORALS,RESPECT & CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS!
July 30, 2014 @ 10:17 am
I will let the legal system play this out. I’ve seen to many incidents/allegations like this that don’t turn out to be what first is thought.
But on the topic of this behavior going on a mainstream country shows, we have to be careful with that…but I don’t disagree. I think the music is geared toward a target audience that isn’t quite ready for the real world yet. They are young, like their booze and don’t think anything can happen to them. You can’t “blame” an artist or an art form(the music) for decisions that younger folks make in a drunk/high phase, but certainly the industry and the artists have to see that they are communicating messages to an audience that isn’t equipped mentally to process the music and behavior associated with it.
Sure, many artists sing about drinking, drugs, sex, etc… but mainstream country (bro-country, fake outlaws) are targeting, straight up targeting, 16-22yr. males. 16-22 yr. old males aren’t simply drawn to the music, they are targeted.
When I was that age, Hank Jr./Waylon/Willie, etc… were singing about all those topics, and I was drawn to it, but they didn’t explicitly target me.
You can say it isn’t the music, which I agree with, but it is the marketing and the irresponsibility of the industry and artists that directly sing to a group of kids, that can’t handle the topics they sing about. When a 30-40yr. old artists sings about highschool stuff, the listener isn’t going to react like a 30-40 yr. old, cause they are only 16-22.
July 30, 2014 @ 11:18 am
Such a good comment! So, so true. These high school kids listening to Luke Bryan singing about love and roller coasters don’t think about the fact that he is old enough to be their dad.
November 12, 2024 @ 5:27 pm
Kenny Chesney also sing about beaches surf & being in love
July 30, 2014 @ 2:38 pm
Huh. Comic books targeted me as a kid but I don’t recall jumping off high buildings trying to fly.
Beer, booze=targeted marketing whether country music or the NFL or MLB.
And I’d guess any Sunday football game has the same or more number of inebriated customers as these concerts. Individual idiots that take things too far are there too.
July 30, 2014 @ 2:54 pm
Sure there’s plenty of drunk people at sports games, but there’s not nearly the amount of these types of incidents, mainly because teens are there with their parents, and there isn’t a wink-and-nod token acceptance of underage drinking by the venue and organizers.
I don’t want to preach morality, but there is a reason the legal drinking age is 21. If parents want to supply kids with alcohol before that age or they obtain it somehow otherwise, whatever, it’s going to happen and we all know it. The problem is when you put large groups of people together like this in a public place, add extremely drunk teenagers who don’t know how to hold their liquor, bake them in the summer sun, and have shallow, misogynistic music that glorifies excess as the backdrop, you’re going to have these problems. There’s absolutely no way these scenes are similar to your average St. Louis Cardinals game.
July 30, 2014 @ 4:32 pm
Don’t know about St. Louis, but here the Bears, Cubs, and Blackhawks all see their share of detentions and arrests for drunk and disorderly. And you couldn’t imagine the scene on Saint Patty’s when hordes of suburbanites descend on downtown to puke green beer onto the sidewalks.
I understand the point of the post, but it seems most of the comments ARE trending to moralizing. That’s my objection I guess, perhaps admittedly knee jerk. But comic books, the 3 Stooges, rock n roll, were all moralized about in my day for encouraging violence or delinquency. It just feels like a “get off my lawn” moment, with it being easier for us to blame the music (3 Stooges, comic books) than the idiots or the parents who spawned them. Very hard to look in the mirror.
And I do know, this opinion is no better than anyone else’s.
July 31, 2014 @ 9:21 pm
I mean no offense when i say this but i have had multiple family and friends in the Chicago area and well, thats Chicago. And a sports event generally has more people and a more controlled environment then most music venues i have been to. Try smoking pot, or hell now even a cigarette, inside most sports stadiums and see if something doesn’t happen. Also you have to take into account the fans that will be attending. At a sports event it is very different considering you are going to have many different types of people there. I have a buddy who runs a venue where i am that hosts all of the top “underground”(if thats what you want to call it) artists and some who are not. He and his staff run the bar and venue very differently according to what kind of fans will be there. Hank 3 was just playing there last week and i can guarantee you they were more lenient with fans during the Hank 3 concert then they will be at something like the shovels and rope show coming up. Venues generally know what they are getting themselves into before they book an artists and do tons of research, those that don’t are foolish. They are there to make as much money off of the fans in one night as possible. The majority of fans at a Hank 3 show i can guarantee you won’t care about smoking, but a lot of fans at a sports even will.
November 12, 2024 @ 5:30 pm
So very true,Its the generation & upbringing(lack of)that is horrible,where is the RESPECT,CONSIDERATION & MAIRALS WE (BOOMERS)WERE BROUGHT UP ON.tje parents need to raise their offsprings better
July 30, 2014 @ 10:28 am
Maybe I’m giving these concertgoers too much credit, but I think if force were used someone would have stepped in. That’s not to say this wasn’t rape and that’s not for us to decide, but it’s still of note. Of course, when you throw alcohol into the mix everything gets all bassackwards.
July 30, 2014 @ 11:24 am
Someone did step in. It was an older woman who recognized the situation as a problem, while the younger people around (probably drunk as well) didn’t. The girl may have not resisted because she was too incapacitated to put together the motor skills to do so. Or maybe she did resist at some point of the process. Then again, what do all these songs teach to girls? To be subservient to men. The police report says ““she was afraid of what would happen” if she resisted.
July 30, 2014 @ 11:58 am
Ok wait. I am a woman, albeit not in the 16-22 demo (37) so I have a little more life experience than these girls. HOWEVER women (and girls) have to take some responsibility for their own safety. #1- Don’t get shitfaced and go off with a stranger. Never a good idea, even in a public setting. Women aren’t mindless robots that do whatever a country singer tells us to do. I could listen to Ice Cube all day long and not go kill a cop. Marilyn Manson does not make my simple woman mind go worship the devil. I think it’s a bit of a reach to say that these guys are telling women to be submissive and not to protect themselves if they are in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation. They may have some douchey songs but I don’t think any of them condone abusing women.
July 30, 2014 @ 2:51 pm
Although I can’t exactly speak about the female’s perspective, I agree with the rest of your comment. It seems as though, as our population grows, more and more people act in a hedonistic manner without a care of consequences.
I don’t think its totally the music’s fault (though it may play a big role). People seem to be getting more and more selfish as time rolls on, and there is a huge lack of respect for other people. You can’t solely blame the media and the entertainment industry. People have minds of their own, and I think good role models are become more and more scarce these days (including parents: yes, I’m talking to you, lady with a phone in her hand while driving a 4,000 pound SUV full of kids road raging the driver in front of you.).
I don’t exactly buy the girl’s argument of being afraid of what may happen if she didn’t follow this guy. She was surrounded by people in a public area. Afraid socially, maybe, but physically? I don’t know.
I had a close friend’s life nearly get ruined back in the high school days, because a girl he had sex with at a party accused him of rape. He spent the better part of a year defending himself, in court and out of court, and eventually he was found innocent.
This incident shouldn’t be taken lightly, but maybe poor judgment and underage alcohol consumption played a bigger role than force and rape.
June 2, 2021 @ 7:23 pm
Rape is NEVER ok. If she said no even once, it’s rape! Obviously something wasn’t right if the lady that stopped the assault asked the victim if it was consensual. The people standing around watching and taking videos should be ashamed of themselves. I’ll bet if it was one of their family members they would have stepped in.
November 12, 2024 @ 5:33 pm
We listened to rock & roll,Bob Seger,Rod Stewart,The Eagles,would never do dumbassshit!
July 30, 2014 @ 4:31 pm
As a woman I thoroughly disagree with this comment, JC. The sick ‘rape culture’ that exists in western society is a problem that men need to take responsibility for. No woman deserves to be raped due to being drunk, wearing a short skirt or being a flirt. Most parents need to start raising their boys better – to teach them respect and boundaries. There is no excuse ever for rape.
July 30, 2014 @ 5:09 pm
For anybody that is interested, here’s an article about ‘rape culture’ written by a man for men. It’s pretty interesting and deftly explains what it actually is like being a woman in the world, where we have to be vigilant about our safety all day everyday – something most men probably don’t even realise:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zaron-burnett/guide-to-rape-culture_b_5440553.html
July 30, 2014 @ 5:49 pm
No where do I say that she deserved to be raped. Please quote that line if it shows on your screen. I was responding to the point made about her being scared to say something because country music says that women should be submissive. However, it is ultimately a woman’s responsibility to try and protect herself from harm. Of course there are situations that are beyond a woman’s control. When a man attacks her, breaks into her home, kidnaps ect. I in no way think or have insinuated that these situations are a woman’s fault. The reality of the world now is that there are bad people in it and if you choose to get drunk to the point of incomprehension and go off with a stranger, you may get raped. No you don’t deserve it, you didn’t ask for it but you put yourself in a bad situation that likely could have been avoided if you had stayed with your group. No man has a right to rape ever, but women have to realize that these are different times and making good choices about your surroundings and actions can go a long way in keeping yourself safe.
July 30, 2014 @ 6:04 pm
JC, I didn’t state that you said that – I can see from your other comments you have compassion for the victim. In regards to your comment – this is EXACTLY what rape culture is … teaching women to avoid getting raped instead of teaching men not to rape. I invite you to read the article I posted. The more people that understand rape culture the better. I only really found out about it myself this year and think it’s very empowering for not only women but men too 🙂
July 31, 2014 @ 7:37 am
” In regards to your comment ”“ this is EXACTLY what rape culture is ”¦ teaching women to avoid getting raped instead of teaching men not to rape.”
Why is this an either-or proposition? Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say. What JC is saying reminds me of things I’ve read about how some black parents counsel their sons. Things like don’t run in public to avoid someone, possibly a policeman, making the assumption that you’re running away from a crime scene. Prudence is a virtue.
This thread reminded me of this article by liberal columnist Ruth Marcus:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ruth-marcus-missing-the-point-on-binge-drinking/2013/10/24/56c8a70a-3ce0-11e3-a94f-b58017bfee6c_story.html
July 31, 2014 @ 8:16 am
Jack, great article. I don’t think it is an either-or proposition myself, but you have to admit that as a culture we spend a hell of alot more time teaching our young women how to avoid sexual assault than we do teaching our young men how to respect women.
The bottom line is a woman should be able to get passed-out-drunk in the middle of a crowded public place AND NOT BE RAPED.
I have passed out several times in my wilder days and I’ve not been, nor have I ever been concerned about being, raped. Women do not get that luxury.
July 31, 2014 @ 9:08 am
Big A, I completely agree with your comments. It’s just that if you pass out from drinking or whatever else, you are so vulnerable. For a man in that situation, getting raped or otherwise sexually assualted is fairly negligible concern, as you say. Being robbed of your personal affects is a more realistic negative outcome. If the latter ever happened to me, I’m sure I would feel regret and learn from the experience, but I’d get over it and might eventually even laugh about it. But if you’re raped, which is a very real possibility if you’re a woman, there’s no shrugging that off.
July 31, 2014 @ 9:39 pm
There is a little thing called testosterone that differentiates a man and woman. If you think teaching your children to respect women will stop them from a feeling similar to ecstasy(not the drug the actual emotion) while they are drunk off of their ass you have problems. That’s like saying that I taught my son to respect firearms, now he should be able to be inebriated around loaded weapons. A girl shouldn’t be pass out drunk in public. Just like a man should not be passed out drunk in public, or in general for that matter. The problem isn’t just teaching men to respect women in general, its teaching people to respect themselves. If you respect yourself you have a better understanding of how to treat people. Even if it is subconsciously. Its all simple psychology folks. Can’t speak for the women since it was separated events, but we did learn what happens when a man has too much to drink. specifically with hormonal changes. I also saw first hand how many people didn’t listen because they thought being blackout drunk was fun(people that did respect women.) Doesn’t change choices they made while drunk. I peed on a white table in my bedroom one time because i was too drunk to get to the bathroom. Maybe if my parents taught me to respect my furniture i would have made it to the toilet?
August 1, 2014 @ 4:27 am
Certainly, let’s agree that alcohol does not help matters. Still, the notion that alcohol and testosterone is the end-all explanation for sexual assault is ridiculous. Somehow young men manage to get drunk en masse without committing mass murders or screwing farm animals, so they have some degree of control and responsibility for their impulses in ANY STATE.
Just as we teach young men to be responsible with firearms and to avoid them when inebriated, we should teach them the same about women with the same level of fervor.
August 1, 2014 @ 6:30 am
“I peed on a white table in my bedroom one time because i was too drunk to get to the bathroom. Maybe if my parents taught me to respect my furniture i would have made it to the toilet? ”
Oh, man. That is DEEP.
July 31, 2014 @ 10:15 pm
I’m aware. I meant of the people that were apparently watching. Again, I cite the fact that I’m probably putting a little too much faith in the benefit of the doubt. I guess I just like to believe that there are more people in this world that aren’t idiots or sadists.
July 30, 2014 @ 8:07 pm
There was an incident at a rave near where I live (suburban Vancouver in Canada) a couple years back where a young girl was raped and bystanders filmed it instead of stopping it. They instead put it on Facebook and other sites. The bystanders who filmed were charged by the RCMP with child porn charges and the charges stuck. These sick bastards should be charged too. Sucks knowing I have two little girls who I have to protect from these kind of animals.
July 31, 2014 @ 10:16 pm
That’s horrible. It’s unfathomable to me that someone could even commit a crime like rape, much less that bystanders would react in such a callous and utterly hateful way.
April 1, 2023 @ 6:44 pm
What point are you trying to make ? You sound like a creep, if that woman hadn’t stepped in lord knows what would’ve happened to that 17 year old girl.
July 30, 2014 @ 10:31 am
What is country music selling these days? Beer, parties, and the objectification of women( and men for that matter). The fans reflect the music. Garth Brooks had big arena shows and this never happened. Stop selling easy, unromantic, immature attraction in the guise of a commercial. Encourage people to act like things don’t matter and they will. No one would rip Tim McGraw’s jeans if he wasn’t presenting them in a certain way. No one ever went after Alan Jackson’s ripped jeans. One of the greatest things about country music is that it makes you look inward and see yourself. Today’s country music is more about money than about music, less about country living than about the party that happens after, and less about mutual and self respect than about boasting. And now someone might have been raped. I am ashamed of what country music is reflecting today. I know. According Blake Shelton that makes me ” an old fart”. I am still ashamed.
July 30, 2014 @ 10:51 am
I think CraigR is headed in the right direction with fans reflect the music. This is true in all media…music, TV, films, etc. I certainly did not nearly see the amount of camo before Duck Dynasty, that I did after it arrived. Think back to the “overtly patriotic” period we had in country music not that long ago. You could choose to like Alan Jackson’s “Where were you..”, Worley’s “Have You Forgotten?” or Toby’s “Courtesly of te RW&B” collectively, or you could have a favorite and it might paint you as sad, reflective or pissed off. But it was rooted in how you felt about your country. With today’s country, those “feelings” are a chasing the party and women as a party favor. Merle asked for it years ago…”I wish coke was still a cola, and a joint was a bad place to be”.
July 30, 2014 @ 11:08 am
Well said. That is what I was trying to say in my comment above, but you said it better.
The audience is not mentally equipped to handle songs about girls, beer and good times. I was a guy that got crazy at concerts, not like this fuckstick… but now, I still drink the same amount, probably more, but I’m older, and I don’t try to insight riots. I have more going on in my life than a girl in my truck and ice cold beer.
July 30, 2014 @ 10:40 am
This is disgusting. Consensual or rape, either way it is disgusting. I hope some of these clowns that took video turn it over to police for evidence instead of selling it to TMZ. If he did rape her in front of those people he should rot in jail. Was she fighting him? Screaming? Anything? If she was and these people stood by and watched/filmed, they should go to jail as well. That said, if he didn’t rape her and she was just wasted off her ass and let it go to far and it now crying rape, shame on her. Regret is not rape. (ie last year’s OU Homecoming video)
July 30, 2014 @ 11:25 am
Well the girl said it wasn’t consensual while it was happening. That’s usually a pretty good sign it’s rape and not regret. It’s still innocent until proven guilty though. The truth will come out hopefully.
July 30, 2014 @ 2:58 pm
Did she say no? Did she ask him to stop? It’s not rape unless she verbalized to him that she did not want it. I just don’t buy the fact that this was rape with a large audience. Maybe she was pressured and scared, but rape? People can be sick, but come on.
A young man’s future is on the line, and his life could be utterly ruined if convicted. If a court decides he is guilty, then he deserves severe punishment, but without more information its really hard to say that he raped her.
July 30, 2014 @ 3:06 pm
I don’t know Matt, I wasn’t there. What we do know was there was about 15 cell phones trained on them during the incident, all of which have been taken into custody by police, and will be thoroughly examined. What we do know is when the woman who pulled the man off of her asked if it was consensual, and the girl said “No.” That gives at least some indication that it might not have been. I’m not saying it wasn’t consensual, but in these matters, I don’t have a problem with authorities at least investigating the matter to try and determine the truth.
This is still innocent until proven guilty. The young man is free on bond, and is at home. There will be either a plea deal or trail and some point, and there seems to be enough witnesses and visual evidence to where the truth will come out eventually. If the girl made up a story, she could be held accountable too.
July 30, 2014 @ 4:19 pm
Well put. She may have said no to the woman because she realized at that point how embarrassing the act was. Or, maybe she said no before the woman showed up. I just hate to think that, no matter how rowdy and drunk the crowd was, no one stepped in to stop a rape.
I walked by a circle of people one night at a warped tour/ozzfest back in ’98. It was dark out and as I walked by with my friend we saw a drunken couple having having sex right under a large event light/lamp. There had to be 30-50 people standing around watching. My buddy and I thought it was disgusting, so we kept walking. This isn’t a brand new phenomenon, but in the country music world I think it is.
July 30, 2014 @ 4:43 pm
I must add this. The couple I saw were obviously enjoying themselves.
July 31, 2014 @ 8:09 am
Matt, I understand where you are coming from, but a woman does not have to say “no” in order for it to be rape. Frankly, this is a perfect example of rape culture. We expect the woman to specify that she does not want to have sex with us, rather than assume the opposite.
Consent is what it boils down to. If this woman was incapable of consent for any reason, then a man should assume the default: she does not want to have sex with you.
As culture we spend a tremendous amount of time teaching our young women how to protect themselves, but little/no time teaching our young men their expectations. If anything we do the opposite and teach young men how to get sex with little regard for the consequences.
Now in my life I have seen situations where consent later turned into regret, which led to an assumed of lack of consent in retrospect. That is where it gets really bad for everyone involved.
July 31, 2014 @ 8:21 am
I hear you man. I’m no lawyer, and my writing is not quite as put together as some commenters here.
I want to make sure that you understand I don’t condone men pressuring women (or a girl in this case) to have sex against their will. I’m many things, but I am not a sexist, and I treat women with all the respect they deserve. I assume every woman I meet DOESN’t want to have sex with me. Luckily my girlfriend was persistent when we met =)
Either way, this is a disgusting reflection of American culture, and it makes me ashamed of America’s youth and the parents who are “raising” them.
July 31, 2014 @ 8:55 am
Matt, I hear you and I think the point that “it makes me ashamed of America”™s youth and the parents who are ‘raising’ them” is much more important than any message board jargon about feminism or men’s rights.
I have a son and daughter, so I’m forced to think about these things from both perspectives. I think people like you and I, who will at least *try* to raise our children (if you have/will have them) with a better understanding of our responsibility as humans are the solution to the problem.
April 1, 2023 @ 6:47 pm
He was pulled off then ran away. The girl was asked if it was consensual and she said “no”.
What’s wrong with you ?
July 30, 2014 @ 10:46 am
I think a distinction should be noted that the problem is only occurring at huge stadium shows of top mainstream artists, rather than country music concerts generally. I know that you and I know the differences, but to a mass audience the lack of distinction in phrases such as “unruly patrons at country concerts” casts all of country music in a bad light, when 99% of the shows across the country every weekend have no issues like the ones being reported lately.
Having said that, some of these big stadium shows really seem to have gotten out of hand lately. If I were these artists I would be pretty ashamed that it happened at one of my shows.
July 30, 2014 @ 11:28 am
I agree but I think that somewhat goes without saying. I run a website called “Saving Country Music” and have never been more embarrassed about what is being represented under the “country” term than I am today. But this goes for the music, and many facets of country music, and is a much bigger fight. That is why it is imperative that we fight for the “country” term instead of giving it up to the industry to have it represent music and values that don’t truly reflect what country music is.
July 30, 2014 @ 10:49 am
You know what happens at a Lucero show if you act stupid? John C Stubblefield puts down his bass guitar and gives you a warning. You do it again, he is coming off the stage.
July 30, 2014 @ 11:07 am
You know what happens at a Luke Bryan/Jason Aldean/ Florida-Georgia Line/etc. show when you act stupid? You get a thumbs up and a “That’s how we roll, brother!” from the singer.
July 31, 2014 @ 6:57 am
You are completely right! Reminds me of an earlier article here when Jason Isbel stopped his performance for people that started fighting and kicked the guy out. I think he even asked him if he wanted his money back lol. I’ve been to many great concerts and this does not happen at a Wade Bowen show, even in rowdy shows like Whiskey Myers they don’t fight!!!
July 30, 2014 @ 11:04 am
Maybe if these artists would perform better music people wouldn’t need distractions like drugs, alcohol, and sex to make the show tolerable.
July 30, 2014 @ 11:16 am
Well now. I wonder if this is the next step after what Eric Church brags about, that is, fans having sex at his shows?
I think Craig R. nailed it pretty solid in relation to the lifestyle that mainstream country music is selling these days. No doubt there are those who would say, “Well if that’s the case, why didn’t you see people getting killed at shows after some of the things the real Outlaws were singing about?” And I think that’s a pretty gross oversimplification of the issue, because objectification of women is quite a different thing than cold-blooded murder. Both are bad, just different degrees of it. With apologies to Macy Gray, there are a lot of folks who will objectify women and not feel bad about it, not least of all the singers of the bro-country trash. And while objectification of women is as bad as rape, the first action is a bona-fide action requirement of the second.
I can hear it now. “He’s saying bro-country encourages rape!” You could very well say that. To what extent I don’t know, but I can’t see it being that far from “getcha little fine ass on the step shimmy up inside” to “getcha little fine ass on the bed, lemme slide on in.” Just something to think about…
July 30, 2014 @ 12:06 pm
‘And while objectification of women is as bad as rape’
I pretty much agree with everything you say but that quote is a step too far for me. While it may be true that objectification can lead to rape to say that just the act of objectifying a woman is the same as rape is a little ridiculous.
Not that I’m defending these pathetic idiots and their crap songs but there does need to be a little personal responsibility here.
July 30, 2014 @ 12:12 pm
Ooh, MAJOR TYPO on my part, Scotty J! Meant to say, “while objectification of women is NOT as bad as rape”…
And you’re absolutely right, of course.
July 30, 2014 @ 12:17 pm
Yeah I didn’t think that fit with the tone of the rest of your comment. The lack of an edit feature in comments sections can be frustrating sometimes when you get on a roll.
July 30, 2014 @ 12:18 pm
GAH, tell me about it. 😀
July 31, 2014 @ 8:21 am
When the recurring theme of most of the songs is “Baby let me get you drunk and we’ll slip off into the woods” I really don’t think they’re talking about hunting mushrooms.
So, yeah, I very much believe that “Bro Country” encourages rape.
It breaks my heart that middle-aged women are encouraging their young daughters and granddaughters to listen to this crap.
July 30, 2014 @ 11:17 am
It’s part of life concerts are not to blame for bull[BLEEP] the beer isn’t to blame either it’s part of life, because at most concerts you’re not allowed to drink beer and people just don’t follow the rules. People get raped everyday it’s part of life. I’m not saying it’s right to do this stuff but god made us to face consequences for what we do. I’m also not saying it’s alright to get drunk at 17 also but look at this [BLEEP]ed up world and this stuff isn’t new and stuff like this at concerts are rare because the only things I hear is death outside a concert, a tornado or storm destroyed a concert, and a shooting outside a concert. So in other words this stuff is not new to me I read this stuff off a lot of websites.
July 30, 2014 @ 11:44 am
Whether or not it was consensual (which can be tough to determine if both parties were intoxicated), where was security?? This was just happening out in the open, at a Keith Urban concert of all things, and no one did anything? I would expect this, maybe, at a hardcore rap or metal show but Keith fricking Urban? That’s like a riot breaking out at a Darius Rucker show. (please tell me that hasn’t already happened…)
A country show like this used to be a safe environment. There’s definitely something going on here in the culture that’s bigger than the music. Keith Urban isn’t party rock bro country, he’s like, V-H1 pop country. Yet these kids saw his show, one that once would have been family friendly, as nothing more than an excuse to get wasted. It isn’t just Jason Aldean and FGL.
And the artists encouraging the party mindset certainly don’t help. I get that you want people to have a good time at your shows, but it’s going way, way too far and these artists need to step in and say something. And security really needs to be beefed up. At country shows, of all things. :/ We can’t police the underlying issue of what’s happening in our culture, but more security would at least help put an end to these kind of incidents.
July 30, 2014 @ 12:30 pm
Keith Urban may not be bro country but his music is played alongside songs of the bro ilk. Guilt by association.
July 30, 2014 @ 1:07 pm
There’s a thing called the “Country Music Megaticket” that many fans buy and gives them tickets to all the shows of major mainstream acts. That may have been why more “Bor-Country” oriented, younger fans were at this show.
July 30, 2014 @ 2:11 pm
Gotcha.
July 30, 2014 @ 11:22 pm
back in high school I got invited to go see Toby Keith with some friends, there was a full on brawl in the lawn. Security was no where around, so being the jackass high school football player I was, I figured it was my job to stop it.
It didn’t work, those dudes were huge. Security basically just waited till it was over.
July 30, 2014 @ 12:11 pm
It seems to me that the venues and the promoters may have taken the stereotype of a country music audience and applied that to the type and amount of security that they are allocating to these shows. But these aren’t your parents country fans anymore. They need to start upping security greatly and start with the parking lots pre show and extend that into the venue. Lots and lots of citations and arrests will quickly improve the overall drunkenness of the crowds.
July 30, 2014 @ 12:15 pm
Bottom line: the alcohol abuse at these summer festival country-pop shows is way, way out of hand. I’d wager that a solid 50% of all attendees are there specifically to get shit-hammered and nothing more. The artists NEED to band together regarding this trend and loudly and forcefully denounce it. And the fans NEED to discourage and rein this behavior in…NOW. If you can’t enjoy the show without being wildly intoxicated than what good is it?
July 30, 2014 @ 1:01 pm
After hundreds of concerts over the last 30 years from rock to country to blues and metal, the worst I have seen is a few fights and lots of messed up folks wondering aimlessly. What is the deal people ! The vast majority of the shows I have attended have been in all parts of Texas. I have never once seen anything like what is being talked about lately and I have been to several shows this year ! These incidents seem to limited to the northern united states and mainstream country acts. Sounds like security needs to be beefed up considerably at these shows. I am sickened. My God what is wrong with people. I am glad I live were I live and go to the type of shows I go to. Never say never but I bet I will want encounter anything like this at a place like Billy Bobs Texas, Gruene Hall or Flores Country Store, the cops would be on them instantly. Case in point my “gulity musical pleasure” is the yearly Jimmy Buffett gig in Frisco, Texas at the soccer statdium. 30,000 plus who had been tailgating since Friday with plenty of consumption that continued all the way to Sunday no arrests, no rapes, no deaths , no fights that I saw, just folks having some silly fun for a weekend. Why can’t this be the norm at all big shows ?
July 30, 2014 @ 1:05 pm
These incidents of rape are very troubling, of course. Let’s be very clear here: the blame for sexual assault falls entirely on the men who committed these crimes, and on promoters who do not hire sufficient security. Even if a woman gets drunk and has sex without giving clear consent, it’s rape. Period.
And, an important note to the article’s author, Rolling Stone writer Joseph Hudak:
It is offensive and inappropriate to include the incident of the woman with the 4-month-old being asked to leave Paisley’s concert.
Whether she was asked to leave for her child’s safety, or for breastfeeding — this is a parenting and safety issue — the fact that this woman might have been breastfeeding in no way equates the incident with rape and sexual assault!
D. Freeman
July 30, 2014 @ 2:59 pm
D. Freeman,
I agree with you, and just to clarify, Saving Country Music has absolutely no affiliation to Rolling Stone Country or Joseph Hudak. I purposefully did not link this incident to the breastfeeding incident at the Brad Paisley show, nor did I even report on the breastfeeding incident which was nothing more than a very mild local story at best blown up by the media because of the political quotient.
I don’t know Joseph Hudak. He seems like a fine writer. He may have just been trying to paint a broader picture of incidents at country concerts being on the rise, and not necessarily comparing the two. I don’t know.
July 30, 2014 @ 1:10 pm
Gingers don’t have souls!
July 30, 2014 @ 1:11 pm
I think there are certain bozos about who gravitate to, for lack of a better word,”events”. They jump on the next big thing. Right now, this “music” is huge. I’m 47. When I was a kid nobody, I mean no-body, listened to any kind of country music up here in the Boston area. There were a few people here and there who maybe liked Cash, Haggard, Jennings and stuff like that, but there werent any big country stations, and they sure as hell werent selling out huge stadiums up here. Now, comes this dumbed-down, pop sounding crap with sing along choruses and call back verses and whatever the hell recipe from the great vat of shit that passes for popular country music today, and just like every lousy music trend in history, it became huge. And the hordes of jack-assery followed. Most people just want to go and have a good time and listen to the music (for reasons that I will never fathom) and arent bad folks in any other way, but the scum will always surface. In a few years it’ll probably be something else. Can hardly wait.
July 30, 2014 @ 1:30 pm
I wonder if Sean Murphy fell in love in the back of a cop car that night.
July 30, 2014 @ 7:31 pm
Somewhere in the cop car! 😉
July 30, 2014 @ 2:33 pm
This story really bothers me, so I wanted to add something to what seems to be an agreement here that there is a particular type of music and artist where this crazy behavior is happening lately.
It isn’t new news that teenagers and 20something young adults will make poor decisions and drink/drug to the point of hurting themselves and/or others. But bro-country and fake outlaws (and Urban is starting to dangle in this concept), that aspect of country music industry is trying to exploit and capitalize on the stupid behavior of teenagers.
Songs about drinking in your pick up and getting a girl in it and the moonlight, moonshine, nothing else matters we’re gonna have a good time… (see that rhymes so I have the beginnings to a #1 hit, right?) teenagers and 20 somethings, the vast majority, the target audience, take that literally. They don’t consider much else but the 30seconds and 140 characters in front of them. At least the audience that is being targeted.
There is some responsibility on how dumb down and highschool pie in the sky, carefree, drink beer songs the industry is going to put out. Does a song make the situation at the Urban concert happen, no, but the whole package, song/advertisers/concert promoters/labels/artists image, an 18yr. kid eats that up, drinks it down and next thing he knows he running from cops and being charged with rape cause he’s a bad ass, carefree, chain wallet tough guy like the guy on stage.
Except the guy on stage isn’t any of those things, so why is he singing about it? Sing what you live and know and maybe people won’t try to be what you aren’t even being.
July 30, 2014 @ 2:41 pm
I’ll just go scoreboard on this one for effect.
Incidents at Concert(s):
‘Country’ concert = 3 or 4 and climbing.
Miley Cyrus (trendy symbol of the decline of youth and taste) concert = 0.
July 30, 2014 @ 3:52 pm
All I can say is ”¦ even if the whole thing does turn out to be completely consensual (and I am in no way saying that I think it is consensual), a guy who has public sex with an intoxicated girl while over a dozen people are photographing and filming it … that’s just not the kind of person I am going to have a positive opinion about anyway.
July 30, 2014 @ 4:05 pm
I don’t know even what to say other than this is totally inexcusable and something needs to be done quickly to stop situations like this from happening again.
July 30, 2014 @ 7:22 pm
Okay first thing Keith Urban? Wtf? I can’t even see a bunch of teenagers thinking oh let’s get trashed at a Keith Urban concert it will be so cool (but I feel this way about almost all mainstream country) sounds more like a middle aged Mom thing to do (I’m 25 & have multiple kids but realize I’m a rarity when it comes to defying the soccer Mom stereotype). Second point where are the parents of these kids? I don’t mean in just this incident I mean generally. I understand teens will lie. I was underage drinking & doing other illegal things not so long ago, but I was scared of my parents. I was scared of disappointing them, getting caught, getting in trouble especially when I was living under their roof! When my friends & I did drink underage or smoke weed we were very low key. I actually had one friend that had a Mom that was one of those if you’re going to do it be here & be safe & we were. As an adult I’m very thankful for her none of us were ever hurt (like some unfortunate kids we knew that snuck out to drink & ended up in a hospital or never made it home) either way there was an open dialogue there about drinking, poor decision making, legal trouble etc. etc. At 20 with a fake ID in a college town I was afraid to drink in public & did my best not to draw attention to myself. Why is a 15 year old not afraid of being so drunk to the point they can’t walk & are projectile vomiting in a place full of security? Not only is it not a good look, you can go to jail. Is that not a big deal anymore? Either scenario would have been mortifying to me as a teenage girl. Seriously vomiting in front of my boyfriend & friends or shaming my family with an arrest were both terrifying. I think it would be interesting to see stats on what kind of socioeconomic background these fans are coming from & if they are in homes where their Dad or Mom are missing. Third, why aren’t these artist speaking out against this? I would be very concerned.
July 31, 2014 @ 6:30 am
Too many comments. Not enough context.
The little ones wandered out of the kiddie pool and almost drowned themselves during Adult Swim. Happens all the time. At all kinds of concerts. In all kinds of other life situations, too.
Parents–raise up your young’uns. Don’t let society do it for you.
July 31, 2014 @ 7:07 am
I agree Charlie. Parents need to do their job as parents in raising their children. There are a lot of distractions when sometimes both parents work full time to support the family, but you can’t let teachers, the media, and the entertainment industry raise your children.
And, as far as “rape culture” goes. I’m really tired of having the finger solely pointed at men, or women. It is the responsibility of men to stop perpetuating the objectification and abuse of women, and it’s the responsibility of women to understand the danger of certain situations that can lead to abuse.
My mom and dad raised me right. I in no way support or contribute to men abusing women.
July 31, 2014 @ 8:48 am
Where’s Thelma and Louise when you need them.
July 31, 2014 @ 11:15 am
I’ve been listening to Country Music so long, that when I got into it, everybody still called it Hillbilly Music. That label went out in the 1950’s, when Nashville artists started “crossing over” to the Top 50 charts and outselling the squares.
The thing that jumps out at me is that this was done in public, and except for the lady who intervened, no one thought of stopping it. In other words, there were not any men with real balls there, or a sense of right and wrong, or any kind of moral compass.
And that is reflected in the music, which is written by hacks for air-headed jerks to perform for drunks. At least that has been what I’ve seen from these people who claim
to be “country” artists, but reflect none of the tradition, the values, or the ethos of our rural culture. It is faux “country” (faux rhymes with ‘Bro’), and it is being generated by an industry that has simply lost its way artistically, culturally, and morally.
So what happened at that concert didn’t really have anything to do with country music,
because that isn’t why they were there. And at a real country music concert, several good ol’ boys would have put a stop to it and cleaned house on the video-tape perverts.
But this ain’t country. It is an insidious, idiotic appeal to the lowest common denominator.
Fight on, Trigger!
Ben Jones
July 31, 2014 @ 11:17 am
“what happened at that concert didn”™t really have anything to do with country music, because that isn”™t why they were there.
Good point.
July 31, 2014 @ 6:26 pm
This using dru.nk and disorderly as a selling point is out of hand and really bad things happen, as this concert illustrates.
I don’t drink, and haven’t for many years, and I can tolerate a fair amount of stupidity if I really want to see and hear an artist.
There will be more and more of these types of tragic results if the artists don’t demand responsibility.
Calling fans “nutso”, whatever that is, after the fact isn’t going to do anything.
August 4, 2014 @ 8:01 am
Folks, many comments are sort of pointing to the music, but not. Some comment on the parents/upbringing of these young kids, but that is hard to blame too.
I really think it boils down to songs/social media/some parents, that paint a picture of a carefree young teenage/adult years where you can try/do just about anything and there is no real consequence, except you get 15min. of fame good or bad.
Many of the folks that get completely shitfaced at these events are folks that want to be the event. They want to be the rock star, but they aren’t on stage, but hey, put “a drink in my hand” and I’m the guy Church is singing about!
I know this was an Urban concern so many of us are perplexed this happened there, but that proves it isn’t simply the music, but more the culture of:: Be young, carefree(less), do whatever you want, you are all winners, it is summer and just go crazy!!! But remember to take a selfie, video it, take photos of others being idiots (don’t stop to help them) and post it so you can get the credit of being there, etc….
Again, all this is targeted on 16-22 yr. olds, and they simply are not mentally equipped to understand what carefree, fun, crazy summer means. (some adults don’t know what it means), but many adults typically have more to live for than “a drink in my hand.” or just “start band” or “cold beer sittin on the console.”
August 8, 2014 @ 9:39 pm
Just So You Know, Guys Are Wired Differently Than Women,
Guys Have The Drive To Spread Our Seed As Much As Possible Its In Our DNA (STILL) From When We Were Cave Men, When Men Would Club Women Over The Head And Drag Them Back To Their Caves, That Exact Same Drive Is Still In Use, Nature Put That There To Further Propagate Our Species, And Being Drunk Sometimes Puts The Part Of Our Brain Asleep That Reminds Us We”™re Living In A Modern Society Where That Stuff Is Frowned Upon.
Same Thing With Cheating Its In Our DNA To Be With As Many Women As Possible, Because There”™s More Chance That Our Bloodline Will Be Continued, The More Women We Sleep With, The More Chance To Have A Child, Obviously We Dont Want To Get Them Pregnant, Our DNA Drives Us To Risk It
And Women Blame The Men For Cheating, When They Should Be Blaming Our DNA, (But Then They Wouldnt Have Anyone To Bitch At, So That Would Never Happen) Because Its Physically Painful For Us Not To Cheat
By The Way Im Not Advocating What He Did, only weak men rape
August 8, 2014 @ 10:03 pm
What happened to the last four words?
August 22, 2022 @ 9:09 am
Yuck. Sad how something so appalling can occur at a joyous event.
November 11, 2022 @ 10:45 am
Hmm isn’t this rather prejudicial to any court case? Sub-judice and all that.
January 12, 2024 @ 8:56 am
Well the prison they put people like that in is Called Wapole. And it’s the real big house. Bubba ia just waiting for him
June 4, 2024 @ 10:40 pm
I’ve attended 13 Willie Nelson 4th of July picnics , several with my family. In all that time, there was no signs of any altercations. These had all star lineups with many music genres. There was great kinship between so many that it felt like family. There was no assigned seating . Free to sit, dance, enjoy the comradeship on and off the stage.At one picnic, 2 college students told my friend and I ” that they were experiencing something life changing.” I agreed with that statement and it held true for many of us each picnic. Absolute joy and thank s to all involved for the sharing of what we saw and felt!