A clip of the R&B singer cursing out a cameraman on stage during his set at “R&B Night Out” at the Big Fresno Fair went viral over the weekend.
WASHINGTON — Singer Mario broke his silence amid the online backlash from a viral video where he ushered a cameraman off stage at a show over the weekend.
The R&B singer was performing at “R&B Night Out” at the Big Fresno Fair in California over the weekend. In several videos shared online, Mario is seen telling a cameraman to “Get the (expeltive) off the stage” multiple times while performing “Braid My Hair.”
“Mario was not having with the cameraman at his performance last night,” the caption on one video read.
The videos sparked backlash, with some calling Mario’s actions “unnecessary.”
Mario issued a statement on his social media Tuesday addressing the situation.
“People are misinformed about the Fresno situation. No one told us a camera man was shooting my set. I got to the show 10 min before my performance and went on stage,” Mario said in his statement.
“Multiple times while seeing the camera man through my peripheral.. I got distracted and one time almost tripped over speaker trying to make sure I’m not walking in the same direction as him,” the singer continued. “He was too far down stage. A camera man is not supposed to be that far down stage unless he’s with you and shooting you that close for a reason. It really can throw you off in the midst of all of that while walking back stage right.”
The singer said that he was frustrated by the situation, leading to his harsh words.
“I will take accountability for being 0 to 100 type of person and this is why I stay out the way most of the time lol. I never want one recorded incident to wipe away the work I’ve done as a person to stay out of ya’ll mouths and the blogs!!” he added. “I’ve performed under all types of circumstances. I’m a very professional person through and through anybody who works with me, knows that.”
Mario also addressed the cameraman directly, apologizing for him getting “caught in the crossfire.”
“I’m sorry u had to experience that! It was nothing personal,” he said. “You’re welcomed to come and shoot me on tour it will be ‘Nothing but us’ tour and we can do it the right way!”
The incident comes a month before the “Let Me Love You” singer is set to kick off his “Nothing But Us Tour.” He will kick things off Nov. 13 in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. The tour will end in Los Angeles on Dec. 9.