Burna Boy’s concerts always trend for one reason or another: the music, the crowd, or the moments nobody sees coming. His latest show, which took place at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, added a fresh chapter to that list after a clip surfaced showing him stopping mid-performance to call out a couple because the girlfriend had fallen asleep.
He pointed them out, paused the band, and asked security to escort them out. Phones flew up instantly. The clip spread across X, TikTok, and Instagram within hours.
The Woman at the Center of It Speaks Out
A few hours after the clip went viral, the woman involved, Chaltu Jateny, posted her side of the story in the comment section of the video. Her message changed the tone of the conversation.
She wrote:
“I am the girl that was kicked out of the show last night… that was very embarrassing and humiliating to myself and my boyfriend. Burna Boy could’ve handled that situation better.”
She continued, explaining why she had dozed off:
“I have been mentally, physically and emotionally drained since my daughter’s dad passed away and I came to his show to put a smile on my face after everything that has happened… He took forever to come out and I was tired.”
And she made it clear that her rest wasn’t disrespect:
“We paid to be there and if I wanted to close my eyes and sleep, I can do that. It is my money… For all of you being nasty, how about showing kindness because you never know what someone is going through.”
Her explanation instantly shifted the online conversation, with many fans calling for empathy and criticizing Burna’s reaction as harsh given the circumstances.
Why This Didn’t Shock Long-Time Burna Boy Fans
Anyone who has followed Burna Boy’s live shows knows this moment sits in a familiar pattern. Burna is gifted, intense, and famously reactive onstage; the kind of artist who performs with his full chest and doesn’t hide irritation when he feels the energy is off.
This latest incident has now joined discussions alongside several past moments:
- The Lagos “late arrival” uproar, where he scolded the crowd before performing.
- The technical-issue walk-off threat, where he told fans he wouldn’t continue if the sound didn’t improve.
- The “neutral faces” rant, calling out fans who weren’t giving enough energy.
- The bouncer confrontation, where he halted the show to challenge security handling a fan.
So when he spotted someone sleeping and reacted instantly, longtime followers weren’t surprised, Burna has a history of reading the crowd in real-time and responding emotionally.
Online Reaction Is Split, Loud, and Everything You Expect
Some fans sided with Burna, saying the moment was disrespectful to the performer. Others pushed back hard after the woman’s explanation, calling for compassion and noting that artists can’t always know what someone in the audience is battling.
@Itata_9 One thing about Burna, whether na Naija or abroad, e go put you in your place. It’s very frustrating to see “fans” uninterested in your performance. They even had front row seats that other people at the concert would’ve appreciated. I would’ve told them to go home too
@Hopeneverdies18 He could’ve handled that differently, but you sleeping there,to him that’s gonna make it feel like he’s boring or some weird shit, gotta understand he’s part too.,
@_Bobjaie I’m an outsider but tbh Burna was in the wrong 100% Davido can never do such
@kiddeyforyou Bro be doing the same thing in all his shows I mean you can’t actually blame the Mf who’s sleeping
And while the clip keeps circulating, the conversation keeps splitting in different directions: stage etiquette, fan expectations, and Burna Boy’s unpredictable showmanship. What’s clear is that one moment has turned into a full-blown online debate, and people don’t seem ready to move on from it just yet.
