Burna Boy Explains Lagos Concert Incident, Cites PTSD as Reason for Fan Assault
Award-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy has addressed the uproar surrounding an incident at the 2025 Lagos Countdown concert, where he was seen kicking a fan who approached him on stage.
A video of the altercation, which has been widely shared online, shows Burna Boy abruptly leaving the stage after the confrontation, sparking criticism from fans and onlookers. Many labeled the Grammy-winning singer as arrogant, reigniting debates about his interactions with fans.
Responding to the backlash, Burna Boy took to his Instagram stories on Wednesday to explain his actions, attributing them to his struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He also reiterated his longstanding rule about stage boundaries during performances.
“It was a free show. I was supposed to do 10 minutes but ended up performing for almost an hour,” he wrote. “Everybody knows my rule about getting on stage and startling me when I’m performing. Don’t jump on my stage like that! I got PTSD. I love you all. Happy new year.”
Burna Boy’s statement shed light on his condition, which he says makes sudden or unexpected interactions on stage overwhelming. PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events, and it can lead to heightened emotional responses in certain situations.
The singer expressed gratitude to his fans for the energy and support at the event but cautioned against breaching his performance space in the future.
While some fans have shown understanding and empathy toward his explanation, others continue to question whether the reaction was justified. The incident has reignited discussions about mental health awareness, particularly for artists under the intense pressure of public life.
