Burna Boy’s PR crisis, missed opportunity & impact of Denver incident on U.S. tour

Burna Boy’s ‘No Signs of Weakness' tour 2025 has evolved from a glorious celebration of his talent to a public relations crisis that highlights the delicate relationship between artists and their audiences, the reputational risks of impulsive decisions made onstage, and the importance of handling unexpected moments with empathy and composure.

The ‘No Signs of Weakness' tour has exposed a major sign of weakness in Burna Boy’s brand, with the Grammy-winning star living with the consequences of his actions on November 12 when he halted a performance mid-show at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado to confront a fan who dozed off.

The Nigerian superstar ordered for the fan’s removal before he could resume the performance, claiming that sleeping was disrespectful.

He addressed the man next to her directly, demanding: “Take her home… I’m not doing another song until you go home.”  

READ: Unapologetic Burna Boy defends actions after Denver incident

It later turned out that the fan was going through a difficult patch, having recently lost a loved one and attended the concert to lighten up her spirits only to be thrown out.

The consequence were almost immediate as a section of the crowd expressed their objection and online criticism mounted on how the singer handled the situation in what remains yet another public relations blunder in his decorated career.

What was meant to give fans a piece of the Burna Boy magic has been overshadowed by controversy, low turnout, and cancelled dates with reports of massive cancellations.

Reports of sparse attendance at his Houston show on November 22 revealed many empty seats in a venue that was largely expected to be filled to capacity.

A scheduled stop at The Armory in Minneapolis on Friday, November 28, 2025 was cancelled without detailed explanation.

A second concert, slated for December 1, 2025, in Chicago, has also been cancelled with the rest of the dates remaining unaffected.

Celebrities build their legacies not just on talent, but also on how they treat their supporters and Burna Boy lost an opportunity to do this.

Instead of a gentler response that could have reinforced his connection with fans and showcased leadership that matches his global influence, Burna Boy chose to do the opposite.

While performers often thrive on high energy from the crowd, fans bring in different levels of energy which may not always match that of the performer.

READ: Why Burna Boy’s concert in Nairobi was the best: Highlights of Madfun Xperience

By publicly singling out the fan, the singer sparked unnecessary controversy that would have been avoided altogether by simply ignoring her.

He could have handled the moment more gracefully by acknowledging the situation with humor or light teasing, allowing the show to continue without confrontation.

A more empathetic approach might have involved recognizing that fans attend concerts for many reasons and arrive with different levels of energy.

Even without delving into her personal circumstances, simply acknowledging that the fan may have been exhausted, unwell, or simply overwhelmed by the long wait times that accompany large events might have saved the day.

With his known commanding stage presence, redirecting focus to the performance by encouraging the crowd to lift the energy collectively rather than the individual was another approach that could have helped the star avoid the undesirable situation.

Instead of instructing security to escort the person out, the Grammy award winner could have also addressed the situation privately or indirectly without creating an awkward spectacle.

Musical icons often build their legacies not just on talent, but also on how they treat their supporters.

By choosing a gentler response, the 'On the Low' singer could have reinforced his connection with fans and showcased leadership that matches his global influence.