Six people were taken to hospital after being injured in a pepper spray incident at JPEGMafia‘s show in Berlin earlier this week, it has been reported.
The US rapper, singer and producer played at the Huxley’s Neue Welt venue in the German capital on Monday night (January 20) as part of his current European tour.
READ MORE: JPEGMAFIA: “I’m not trying to be different. I am naturally different”
According to the Associated Press, several fans were injured at the gig as a result of pepper spray. It is said that six people were subsequently admitted to hospital with respiratory issues.
JPEGMafia – real name Barrington DeVaughn Hendricks – reportedly ended the performance early because of the incident. Additionally, Setlist.FM noted that the show “ended abruptly after [an] audience member sprayed pepper spray in the crowd”.
Police are currently investigating, and it remains unclear as to what caused the incident.
It is reported that the audience was evacuated from the 1,600-capacity concert hall. The fans were initially escorted to a car park by police and then allowed to go home, according to German news agency dpa.
Per AP, German broadcaster RBB reported that an unknown person had sprayed pepper spray inside the auditorium during the show.
In a post on Reddit, one fan who was in attendance claimed that there was “one person with pepper spray” in the crowd. “Can’t be mad at Peggy and his team for cancelling the show,” they added.
The concert in Berlin was evacuated because someone sprayed tear gas into the crowd. This video is outside the place currently
byu/uhhhhhh_cool injpegmafiamusic
“The crowd went insane after the first song. Everyone in the front was close to collapsing on the ground due to the immense heat, yet everyone had so much energy left. It’s sad that it ended after six mosh pits but I had so much fun in that crowd.”
Another person shared a video showing a large police presence outside the venue. In the comments section, others criticised the security staff at the venue. In a separate post, a fan said they “could see people coughing and leaving the room pretty quickly”.
As Security-Discount Germany notes, “pepper spray is classified as a weapon and the possession is illegal” in the country. “The use of pepper spray against humans is however permitted in self-defence situations,” it adds.
“Even pepper sprays may be purchased and used from a minimum age of 14 years, but due to its very strong effect it may only be used against animals in Germany and must also be clearly marked as an animal repellent.”
NME has reached out to JPEGMafia’s representatives for comment, as well as the Huxley’s Neue Welt venue.
The rapper is scheduled to resume his current tour in Milan tonight (January 22) ahead of further gigs in Barcelona, Paris, Utrecht and Brussels. He’ll then head to the UK and Ireland for headline performances in Dublin, Manchester, Glasgow, London, Brighton and Bristol. Find any remaining tickets here.
Later this year, JPEGMafia will open for Linkin Park on select dates of their massive 2025 world tour – including the band’s concert at London’s Wembley Stadium. He released his latest studio album, ‘I Lay Down My Life For You’, last August.
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