Spiritbox frontwoman Courtney LaPlante has defended stopping a recent show to have a violent fan removed from the crowd.
The incident took place during the Canadian metal band’s set at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix, Arizona on July 15, where they were supporting Evanescence alongside Nova Twins.
Before closing the performance with ‘Soft Spine’, LaPlante brought the show to a halt after drummer Zev Rose spotted someone apparently hurting other audience members. The fan was then ejected from the show.
Following the incident, the band have attracted some criticism with one fan writing on X: “So are we pro hardcore dancing minus intentional face punching? Cause your fans seem to take this as a reason to go after kids who hardcore dance.”
LaPlante has since defended her actions writing: “It was old drunk man punching people in head who were facing the stage in small amphitheater vip pit, several times while we were playing. Not appropriate or fun for anyone else there!”
So are we pro hardcore dancing minus intentional face punching?
Cause your fans seem to take this as a reason to go after kids who hardcore dance.
— ethan (@ethanshumski4L) July 25, 2026
She added: “I didn’t say what was happening on stage, and it doesn’t say what actually happened in the article, but I wasn’t thinking about the internet when I stopped the show, 3 times we told security about him so that was the final straw and I’m glad I did it, he wasn’t moshing.”
It was old drunk man punching people in head who were facing the stage in small amphitheater vip pit, several times while we were playing. Not appropriate or fun for anyone else there!
— courtney laplante (@corklezlaplante) July 23, 2026
I didn’t say what was happening on stage, and it doesn’t say what actually happened in the article, but I wasn’t thinking about the internet when I stopped the show, 3 times we told security about him so that was the final straw and I’m glad I did it, he wasn’t moshing.
— courtney laplante (@corklezlaplante) July 24, 2026
In another post she wrote: “So I get that it’s easy to dunk on us, with the info actually provided. It is what it is, the person who already thinks I’m lame and not a part of this culture isn’t crazy to assume from the article that I kicked someone out for moshing, and I will survive another day.”
So I get that it’s easy to dunk on us, with the info actually provided. It is what it is, the person who already thinks I’m lame and not a part of this culture isn’t crazy to assume from the article that I kicked someone out for moshing, and I will survive another day
— courtney laplante (@corklezlaplante) July 24, 2026
During the show she said: “Zev is taller than us and he’s up on the kit, and he sees some fucker right now. We’re not gonna play another song and this show is not gonna continue until we make sure everybody out there is safe.”
She then encouraged those around the alleged aggressor to identify them, saying: “I need you guys to be tattletales – who’s the fucking freak that’s hurting everybody? Point them out.”
After numerous fans pointed towards the individual, LaPlante added: “Well guess what, fucker? We all saw you, we know where you are and your ass is gonna get kicked the fuck out.”
Some fans who claimed to have witnessed the incident later alleged on social media that the person had been punching and shoving people outside the designated mosh pit.
‘Soft Spine’ appeared on the band’s second studio album ‘Tsunami Sea’, which was released in March last year. In a four-star review, NME hailed the record as “awe-inspiring modern metal” and praised the group for “continuing to push the boundaries of what metalcore can be”.
Spiritbox also performed ‘Soft Spine’ at the 2026 Grammys, where they were nominated for Best Metal Performance for the third time
The band are currently touring North America with Evanescence and Nova Twins, before embarking on their biggest UK headline tour to date in September.
That run will begin at Glasgow’s SEC on September 12 and also visit Nottingham, Manchester and Cardiff, before concluding at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on September 19. Find any remaining tickets here.
Spiritbox will later support Metallica at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena on November 21, as part of the metal veterans’ two-night “No Repeat Weekend” at the venue.
The post Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante defends ejecting “old drunk man punching people in the head” from gig after online criticism appeared first on NME.
