Early 1990s rap icon — that term should probably be used very, very loosely — Vanilla Ice decided to weight in on the recent controversy started by country music megastar Miranda Lambert who got more than a little snarky with a group of fans — all females — who took selfies during one of her concerts. Let’s just say he does not share Lambert’s negative feelings toward fans taking selfies at shows.
According to the Daily Wire, “Vanilla Ice, whose real name is Robert Matthew Van Winkle, mentioned the country star during his appearance at the ‘I Love the ’90s’ concert that included other retro performers Young MC and C&C Music Factory at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to a report from People.”
After Van Winkle performed his most well known single, “Ice Ice Baby,” he then invited fans in the crowd to come on stage, telling a few of them taking photos, “You can take all the selfies you want — this ain’t no Miranda Lambert concert.”
Later on in the show the rapper encouraged his fans to use their phones and snap off a few selfies for their social media platforms saying, “Turn it around like Miranda hates.”
Here’s more from the DW report:
Lambert made headlines earlier this month when she paused a residency show in Las Vegas to scold a group of fans taking a selfie, accusing them of “not listening to” her music.
“I’m gonna stop right here for a second,” Lambert said in a clip of the interaction posted on TMZ, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
“These girls are worried about their selfies and not listening to the song,” the country singer continued. “It’s pissing me off a little bit. We’re here to hear some country music tonight. And I’m singing some country damn music.”
Some fans applauded Lambert’s strong reaction to the selfie-takers while others argued the concertgoers should be free to do what they want during the show.
“Miranda didn’t even talk to our Vegas audience between songs hardly,” one TikTok user said about the incident. “Always in a mood. Fans can enjoy however they want. They paid.”
Sounds like classic diva behavior. Lambert apparently thinks far too highly of herself as an “artist,” forgetting that this is still a business and the best way to have longevity is to not be on your high horse and engage with fans. How cool would it have been if Lambert would have invited those women on stage with her for a selfie? That might have actually led to them no longer snapping photos as they would not be able to top that. But hey, what do I know?
“Some fans sought to defend Lambert by saying it was the specific moment with which she took issue rather than being completely opposed to concertgoers taking selfies,” the report noted.
“There’s all the time in the world to partake in those activities during her rowdier, more up-tempo numbers but during her sacred ballads just shut up and listen,” one fan went on to write of the now infamous incident. “Not exactly asking for much when there’s very few on her setlist.”
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