Diana Ross called for security after a fan she invited onstage repeatedly grabbed her during an August concert in Costa Mesa, California. The incident happened as the 82-year-old singer performed “Upside Down” at the Pacific Amphitheatre. Ross has dealt with a similar concertgoer before, including a 2019 onstage encounter.
Atlanta Black Star reported that footage of the Aug. 28 performance surfaced online Sept. 24. In the clip, Ross invites two women from the audience onto the stage to dance with her. One of the women moves toward Ross, touches her thigh and then grabs her wrist as the singer tries to keep the performance going.
The interaction escalates as the woman pats Ross on the backside and hip, then reaches for her again. Ross looks toward the side of the stage and says, “Come get her. Come get her,” signaling for security to step in.
A man who appeared to be working at the venue then approached the woman and began escorting her away. Before leaving, she turned back and attempted to kiss Ross on the cheek. Ross turned her face away and told her, “No kissing,” before the woman was guided offstage.
Ross quickly returned to the song and continued performing.
The fan incident drew criticism online from viewers who questioned why security did not intervene sooner. Some commenters also praised Ross for staying composed while trying to put distance between herself and the woman.
The moment closely echoed the 2019 incident in New York City, when another concertgoer pushed through a crowd during a surprise Ross performance, poked her leg and later tried to grab part of her outfit before security removed him.
Ross has continued performing into her 80s, with additional tour dates scheduled this year. The Aug. 28 clip has also prompted discussion over how quickly venue staff should respond when an audience interaction crosses into unwanted physical contact.
