FEATURE:
A Time for Change
IN THIS PHOTO: Halsey recently experienced two incidents of abuse at her gigs as part of her Back to Badlands Tour, including being groped by a concertgoer/PHOTO CREDIT: Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage/Getty Images
Why 2026 Needs to Be a Year Where Women in Music Can Feel Safe and Respected
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IT is a sad and depressingly common…
PHOTO CREDIT: Rahul Pandit/Pexels
occurrence where we have to discuss sexual assault and abuse in the music industry. Something that affects women more than anyone else, it is often perpetrated by men too. An industry where women are exposed to assault and abuse from within the industry (those working in music) and in live spaces, it is such a toxic environment. Things have not really improved in any way. In terms of discrimination and sexism, this is still hugely common when it comes to festival line-ups, exposure, opportunities and pay. Women, who are dominating music, not given the credit and respect they deserve! Misogyny is still a massive issue that has not been properly addressed for sure. There are so many cases of women reporting sexual assault. When it comes to gigs, this should be a safe space where they should be able to express themselves and play their music without threat of assault or violence. Although artists of any gender can face attack and abuse, it is women more often again who are vulnerable. Whether it is having projectiles thrown at them or fans crossing the line, it can extend to sexual assault. Recently, during a performance, U.S. artist Halsey was sexually assaulted by a fan. Someone groped her during the gig. It is not the only recent incident where someone at her gigs has abused her. Verbally in another case. I want to come to an NME article regarding recent experiences Halsey has faced - that should be a wake-up call for the music industry:
“Fans have been taking to social media to share their outrage after footage emerged of Halsey being groped by a concertgoer.
The incident took place during the singer’s ongoing ‘Back To Badlands’ tour dates, when they performed at The Anthem in Washington D.C. on November 4.
Since the show was held, footage has emerged from someone in the crowd, and it shows the ‘Colours’ singer being groped by an audience member before security intervened. It came as Halsey was delivering a rendition of ‘Is There Somewhere’, and leaning into the crowd during the performance.
In the video, which has been shared by The New York Post, one of the people in the audience is seen putting their hand on the singer’s thigh, before moving it underneath her leather skirt.
Security were quick to spot what was happening and pushed the person’s hand away, and Halsey continued to sing without stopping the performance to bring light to the issue.
Unsurprisingly, fans have been quick to share their outrage at the footage, and call for there to be more respect shown towards Halsey and other performers as they take to the stage.
“Personal boundaries are non-negotiable — a concert is for music, not unwanted touching. Some people seriously need a lesson in respect,” wrote one person after seeing the footage on X/Twitter, while another shared: “That is just so wrong in so many ways.”
I’ve been polite but won’t be caught dead letting a man tell me what I should play in my set.
— halsey 🌸 (@halsey) November 4, 2025
“That’s beyond unacceptable. Performers deserve to feel safe on their own stage – no excuses for this behaviour,” added a third, while someone else commented: “Idiot deserves to be charged. Absolutely unacceptable behaviour.”
“Have we not learned respect , there’s no excuse for this,” another person said on X, and someone else agreed: “That’s harassment, the efff is going on with people? I feel disgusted and I’m so sorry she went through it.”
Halsey has not yet publicly spoken about the incident. NME has reached out to her team for comment.
Just one day before that gig in Washington D.C., Halsey played the second of her two planned shows at Boston’s MGM Music Hall – and revealed that just hours before she was held overnight in the ER due to an acute medical emergency.
Also on that second night in Boston, they faced another issue with the audience, and hit back after being heckled by someone in the crowd who said “shut up and play”.
“I’m gonna play whatever the fuck I wanna play,” Halsey said in response. “In case you didn’t hear me correctly, I almost fucking died to be on this stage. I’m going to play whatever the fuck I wanna play.”
Halsey released her fifth studio effort ‘The Great Impersonator’ last October, and it was given a glowing five-star review from NME and later named one of our best albums of 2024.
“‘The Great Impersonator’ comes from a place she describes as ‘the space between life and death,” the review read. “On the surface, it’s a tribute to the artists who made her. But on the other hand, it’s a brutal reckoning with chronic illnesses and postpartum depression, written when she wasn’t certain if she’d make it to the other side.”
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN”.
PHOTO CREDIT: Wolfgang/Pexels
It is bad enough if an audience members heckles and abuses an artist. If you are at a gig to see someone perform, then you should not be heckling, shouting or do anything that makes them uncomfortable or threatened! Even more so, assaulting an artist is reprehensible and horrendous. I hope that the gig-goer is prosecuted and banned from any Halsey gig! Even though this applies to a very small number of concert-goers, it does not hide the fact that we are still having these conversations. Where women especially are exposed to violence and sexual assault. It is nearly impossible for venues to police so that this never happens. However, the more these incidents occur, the more it will affect every woman in music. They desperately want to play for their fans, and the thrill of experiencing that connection is something that cannot be explained or overstated. However, if they do feel like there is going to be a threat or danger, then what impact will that have?! Going into the crowd could mean they are groped (or worse). Even standing on the stage, there is that possibility of verbal or physical abuse. Halsey showed incredible strength and discipline not to lash out against the fan who groped her. She will continue to play live, though you feel like it will not be long until another woman in music is subjected sexual assault. The industry needs to react to this! Obviously, there is no way for every venue to safeguard artists completely.
However, there is a danger where women will perform less or hold back when it comes to engaging with the audience and stepping from the stage. In recent years, women in music performing live have had to encounter so much. From abuse and assault through to those doubting whether they are playing their own instruments or deserve to be on such a big stage, next year needs to be different. Performers do need to feel safe. Fans need to respect artists. Last year, SPRINTS’ lead, Karla Chubb, revealed how she was groped at a gig. She spoke out against sexual assault. This is happening every year, and it is gut-wrenching to see! Changes and action needs to be taken. We cannot be talking about this constantly without there being any signs of improvement or women feeling safer. Small steps are being made. In the same report where Karla Chubb talked about being assaulted, there was call for the government here to do more to recognise the widespread nature of sexual assault and misogyny:
“In January, the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) - a group of MPs from different parties who advise the government on a specific issue - released a report on the topic.
The findings, based on an inquiry which started in 2022, warned that the industry was a "boys' club" with a "culture of silence" surrounding abuse.
Giving evidence at a public hearing, former Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, said there was a "tidal wave" of revelations about sexual assault in the music industry waiting to be told.
The WEC is due to meet again later to discuss the government's response and says it "failed to accept" a set of "wide-ranging recommendations" designed to better protect women in the industry.
Committee chairwoman, Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, tells Newsbeat she isn't "remotely surprised" by Karla's story.
"My message to the government is you need to get serious about the safety of women," she says”.
We all hope that Halsey is okay and that she never has to experience anything like what she did again! Going forward, this needs to be a loud and clear message to fans and the industry. This article from July regarding a study conducted to gauge the extent of sexual abuse in the Scottish Folk scene, also brought to mind a need for a #MeToo movement. How music has really not had one and how, especially in light of Halsey’s assault, there needs to be new conversations. When it comes to expressing outrage over another woman assaulted or abused in music, we cannot be having this same conversation…
THIS time next year.