Royal Blood spark controversy after insulting crowd during festival gig

Many have taken to social media to criticise the rock band.

English rock duo Royal Blood are facing criticism after a clip of their singer insulting audience members at a recent festival gig has gone viral. The band were one of several musical acts that played the main stage at the annual BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend on Sunday (28 May). The event was held in Dundee in Scotland this year. In a video posted online by The Rock Revival, Royal Blood's vocalist and bassist Mike Kerr appeared frustrated with the crowd that turned out to see the group at the festival, telling the audience:

“I guess I should introduce ourselves seeing as no one actually knows who we are. We’re called Royal Blood and this is rock music. Who likes rock music?”

Responding to cheers, the singer then replied sarcastically: “Nine people. Brilliant,” before introducing drummer Ben Thatcher. Kerr is also heard in the clip telling the crowd:  “We’re having to clap ourselves because that was so pathetic." He is then seen turning to the camera operator to ask him to clap, later saying to audience members: "Yes, even he’s clapping. What does that say about you?” Meanwhile, following Royal Blood's set, Kerr threw his guitar to the ground and stuck his middle fingers up to the crowd as he exited the stage. https://twitter.com/TheRockRevival_/status/1663220061715169282 Many have taken to social media to criticise Royal Blood for their treatment of the Big Weekend audience, with some describing it as "rude" and "entitled". It has been suggested that the programming and scheduling of the festival may have been a factor in the band making the controversial comments. This is as Royal Blood were one of the few rock acts on the mostly pop-focused bill for the event. Their performance was sandwiched between Niall Horan and one of the festival's main headliners Lewis Capaldi, perhaps indicating that many who turned out to see the group were not their target audience. Read more:

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