Truth behind BRIT Awards altercation as Sombr pushed off stage during performance
Here is the truth behind a viral moment at the BRIT Awards which saw singer Sombr pushed off stage.
Last night's BRITs were held in Manchester, seeing Olivia Dean scoop four awards while Noel Gallagher divided those in attendance with his acceptance speech for the 'Songwriter of the Year' award and Jack Whitehall made a pointed dig at last weeks BAFTAs being some of the main talking points from the night.
US singer Sombr also stole headlines from the night, after it appeared the 'Back to Friends' hitmaker was pushed by a stage invader during his performance.
The man, who was wearing a t-shirt reading 'Sombr is a homewrecker' was quickly dragged off stage by security, allowing the 20-year-old to continue with his performance.
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Whitehall later made a comment about the incident following the performance, joking: "Such a shame we didn’t have the security ready."
But was the singer actually pushed by a disgruntled guest – or was something else going on?
A representative for the singer - real name Shane Michael Boose - has since confirmed the incident was staged, with the 'altercation' allowing Sombr the perfect segue between 'Undressed' and 'Back to Friends',
Meanwhile the t-shirt's insult appears to have been a clever piece of marketing for his latest single, 'Homewrecker'.
Which means Sombr fans can rest easily, as the entire moment was planned in advance by the young singer.
The guerrilla marketing has been met with a mixed reactions from fans online, with some viewers sharing their confusion on social media. "Sombr is a homewrecker” was that part of the show? Looks far too real to be scripted wtf," wrote one person on X, while a second commented: "Wild that people can’t see that was staged, his tshirt said ‘SOMBR IS A HOMEWRECKER’ to promote his new song, and the curtain being pulled revealed his band."
"I’m confused. Was the “SOMBR IS A HOMEWRECKER” T-shirt guy that shoved him off the pedestal a part of the show?! Artists are so dramatic these days I can’t tell," added a third user.
Despite the criticism and confusion, Sombr's technique bring attention to his newest song has clearly worked, judging by the fact that we're all talking about it.
"INCREDIBLE use of marketing getting a guy to push Sombr with “Sombr is a homewrecker” tshirt when his new song is called Homewrecker. pay rise for his PR team IMMEDIATELY," penned one fan afterwards.
"Say want you want about Sombr but Homewrecker is a hit," wrote a second.
Mission accomplished.
The most chaotic BRITs moments
The BRIT Awards has a reputation as one of the most chaotic awards shows in the calendar. These are some of the moments things truly went off the rails.
2000: Robbie Williams challenges Noel Gallagher to a fight
Taking to the stage to pick up Best Single for 'She's the One', Williams opened with: "Would anyone like to see me fight Liam? Would you pay to come and see it?
"Liam, 100 grand of your money, 100 grand of my money, we'll get in the ring, we'll have a fight, and you can all watch it on TV."
The pair were at loggerheads after Gallagher called Williams a 'fat dancer from Take That', and they have traded insults ever since.
2012: Adele gives the finger
Poor Adele was only allowed around 20 seconds to make her speech after winning Best Album for 21, the evening's most prestigious prize, before James Corden was sent to cut her off at the behest of the show's producers.
The frustrated songstress stuck her middle finger up, which was briefly visible on the broadcast.
She said: "I flung the middle finger. That was for the suits at the BRIT Awards, not my fans. I'm sorry if I offended anyone, but the suits offended me."
2014: Harry Styles misses prize because he was 'having a wee'
When One Direction were called to the stage to accept the Global Success Award, they were one member short... because Harry Styles had been caught short during the ceremony.
Sprinting onto the stage a good way through the band's acceptance, Styles said: "Really sorry, I was having a wee. The toilets are ages away.
"What did we win?"
2015: Madonna takes a tumble
The world collectively winced after Madonna was yanked off stage by her cape, careening to the ground.
She didn't let that stop her though, picking up her performance of 'Living for Love' moments later.
She later wrote on Instagram: "My beautiful cape was tied too tight. But nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up."
2019: Jack Whitehall's Little Mix interview
In a toe-curling segment, host Jack Whitehall tried to have a spontaneous chat with pop band Little Mix, where he attempted to riff on Jesy Nelson's viral 'Jamaican accent' video from 2014, along with Piers Morgan's criticism of how the band dressed.
"He didn’t like that picture where you stripped off naked … voluptuous chest and four chins, it must have been like looking in the mirror for him. Jesy, what would you say to that dutty wasteman?" Whitehall said - which, it's safe to say, went down like a lead balloon.
Topics: Music, Entertainment, TV, Brit Awards
Brenna Cooper