Spiritbox frontwoman Courtney LaPlante has defended stopping a recent show to have a violent fan removed from the crowd.
The incident took place during the Canadian metal band’s set at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix, Arizona on July 15, where they were supporting Evanescence alongside Nova Twins.
Before closing the performance with ‘Soft Spine’, LaPlante brought the show to a halt after drummer Zev Rose spotted someone apparently hurting other audience members. The fan was then ejected from the show.
Following the incident, the band have attracted some criticism with one fan writing on X: “So are we pro hardcore dancing minus intentional face punching? Cause your fans seem to take this as a reason to go after kids who hardcore dance.”
LaPlante has since defended her actions writing: “It was old drunk man punching people in head who were facing the stage in small amphitheater vip pit, several times while we were playing. Not appropriate or fun for anyone else there!”
So are we pro hardcore dancing minus intentional face punching?
Cause your fans seem to take this as a reason to go after kids who hardcore dance.— ethan (@ethanshumski4L) July 25, 2026
She added: “I didn’t say what was happening on stage, and it doesn’t say what actually happened in the article, but I wasn’t thinking about the internet when I stopped the show, 3 times we told security about him so that was the final straw and I’m glad I did it, he wasn’t moshing.”
It was old drunk man punching people in head who were facing the stage in small amphitheater vip pit, several times while we were playing. Not appropriate or fun for anyone else there!
— courtney laplante
(@corklezlaplante) July 23, 2026
I didn’t say what was happening on stage, and it doesn’t say what actually happened in the article, but I wasn’t thinking about the internet when I stopped the show, 3 times we told security about him so that was the final straw and I’m glad I did it, he wasn’t moshing.
— courtney laplante
In another post she wrote: “So I get that it’s easy to dunk on us, with the info actually provided. It is what it is, the person who already thinks I’m lame and not a part of this culture isn’t crazy to assume from the article that I kicked someone out for moshing, and I will survive another day.”
