Eminem has come under fire after he used gunshot sounds in his live performance at Bonnaroo music festival.
The ‘Lose Yourself’ hitmaker – whose real name is Marshall Mathers – performed at the Tennessee music extravaganza over the weekend where he terrified some audience members with the horrifying sound during his headline set.
Videos on social media show fans screaming and dropping to the ground in terror as the gunshot sound effect interrupts and echoes through the crowd.
But a spokesman for Eminem told Billboard in an email that "Eminem does not use gunshot sound effects during his live show.
"The effect used by Eminem in his set at Bonnaroo was a pyrotechnic concussion which creates a loud boom. He has used this effect – as have hundreds of other artists – in his live show for over 10 years, including previous US festival dates, without complaint."
Instagram personality Sandra Poenar tweeted: "i was having a good time at Eminem’s set then he played a realistic gunshot noise. the whole crowd ducked and i’ve never felt more traumatized and ready to panic. completely inappropriate. (sic)"
Popular social media figure Andrea Russett tweeted: "I hate to be the one to say it, but being someone who suffers from very mild PTSD, it was EXTREMELY irresponsible and distasteful to end songs w the shotgun sound effect. I have grown up loving Eminem and his music but I was extremely triggered to the point of tears. (sic)"
She added: "To hear a gunshot sound effect and see the entire crowd drop to the floor out of instinct is not funny, cute, or amusing. This is the sad reality that we are living. This is not funny or even something to be joked about. (sic)"
Last year 58 people were killed and more than 800 festival-goers were injured when a gunman opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival in Las Vegas.
Eminem criticised for using gunshot sound on stage
