Burna Boy is facing intense backlash in the United States as his No Sign of Weakness tour continues to be overshadowed by controversy, low turnout, and cancelled shows — a shift many fans say is tied to his recent behaviour.
The uproar began on November 12 at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, where the Grammy winner stopped his performance to call out a woman in the front row who appeared to be sleeping. He asked security to remove her, a move widely criticised as insensitive. The woman, Chaltu Jateny, later revealed she was grieving the loss of her daughter’s father and had attended the concert hoping for relief. “I have been mentally, physically, and emotionally drained… I came to his show to put a smile on my face,” she wrote on X.
The incident triggered wider scrutiny. On November 22, videos from his Houston show showed large sections of empty seats, with another concertgoer filmed sleeping during the performance — reigniting criticism of the Colorado episode. Some fans pointed to Burna Boy’s past comments, including a livestream where he said, “Did I tell you all to be my fans? I am only looking for fans who have money,” as contributing to declining turnout.
Amid the backlash, two tour dates — November 28 and December 1 — were officially cancelled, fuelling speculation of waning demand.
The criticism has reached global voices. American rapper Eminem reacted to the Colorado clip, saying, “Yo, this is not cool.”
Streamer Ryan Garcia also weighed in, telling N3on: “Burna Boy’s shows have become empty because of his attitude. Without people, he isn’t a superstar. Life can humble anyone quickly.”
Across social media, fans have demanded accountability and a public apology.
Instagram user @korede_lagos wrote: “He got away with it in Nigeria because everyone gets away with things here, but over there, they cherish their human dignity.”
Another user said: “Apologise and be done with it. Instead, nah, pride.”
Omo Akin added: “Burna Boy should just drop an apology video for this lady and for all his fans. His downfall at a time like this won’t be a joy to watch. One wrong move and he may never recover.”
A TikToker, @Wontonamera, criticised his treatment of fans, saying: “We need to have self-respect as Nigerians… He is so disrespectful whenever he performs to Nigerians.”
Still, some observers urged a broader perspective. One fan wrote:
“My criticism of Burna Boy has always been in his best interest… He’s too important to the culture. He carries the dreams of millions. He is Nigeria’s ‘Afrobeats to the World’ vanguard.”
