Pop star and actress Selena Gomez is under fire online after her bizarre and widely criticized stunt during Beyoncé’s recent Cowboy Carter tour concert in Los Angeles. What many expected to be a fun night celebrating Queen Bey’s genre-bending country era turned sour when fans accused Gomez of exhibiting what they called “rich person behavior” that disrupted the experience for others in attendance.

The Incident That Sparked Backlash

According to multiple eyewitness accounts and now-viral clips circulating on social media, Gomez allegedly had a large bodyguard team clear out several rows of seating mid-performance so she could move closer to the stage with her entourage. In doing so, attendees claim they were asked to vacate their paid seats—some of them premium VIP spots—without warning.

“She just walked in with her people and suddenly security was asking us to move. I was stunned,” one concertgoer wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “We paid $1,200 for these seats. Why does she get to push us out?”

Another video shows a visibly uncomfortable group of fans being guided away by staff as someone believed to be Gomez is seen smiling and waving at the crowd while walking past.

Social Media Erupts

Within hours, the hashtag #SelenaEntitled began trending across X and TikTok, with many fans of both Beyoncé and Gomez expressing disappointment over what they deemed “classist and inconsiderate behavior.”

“Selena Gomez literally pulled the most ‘do you know who I am?’ stunt of 2025,” one user posted. “Not the move in a stadium filled with Beyoncé stans.”

Some longtime fans of the Only Murders in the Building star took to Reddit to share their frustration, questioning if Gomez had become “disconnected from the real world.”

“I’ve always admired her mental health advocacy and humble beginnings,” one fan wrote. “But this isn’t the girl who used to talk about Walmart shopping trips. She’s changed—and not in a good way.”

A Night of Mixed Reactions

Interestingly, some celebrities in attendance reportedly did not take kindly to the disruption either. According to backstage sources, Keke Palmer, who was seated nearby with her family, looked “visibly irritated” and was overheard saying, “People paid to be here—this ain’t the Met Gala.”

No official comment has been released by Beyoncé’s team, though sources close to the event say the incident is being “reviewed internally.” A spokesperson for the stadium venue declined to comment when asked about the seat-clearing situation.

Gomez’s Response

As the controversy grew, Gomez responded via Instagram Stories the following afternoon. Her message, which was later deleted, read:

“It was never my intention to upset anyone. I didn’t ask anyone to move. I was just following my team’s direction and security guidance. I love Beyoncé and hate that this became a distraction.”

However, critics were quick to call the statement vague and deflective. Many interpreted it as a non-apology that avoided taking full accountability.

“She’s blaming her team—classic rich person move,” one top comment read on TikTok.

Damage Control or Escalation?

As the backlash intensified, fans began revisiting past moments of alleged “diva behavior” by Gomez, including a resurfaced clip from a 2023 award show where she appeared to snub a fellow nominee on stage. The current controversy has reignited conversations around how fame and wealth can distort public figures’ relationships with everyday people.

Media outlets from TMZ to BuzzFeed News have picked up the story, and some culture critics have chimed in.

“We’re in an era where celebrity worship is colliding with income inequality,” said pop culture commentator Riley James. “Moments like this become lightning rods for frustration, especially when people are spending their hard-earned money to enjoy an experience only to feel second-class compared to the elite.”

Fans Remain Divided

Despite the backlash, Gomez still has a loyal fanbase defending her.

“Selena didn’t do anything wrong. If anyone should be blamed, it’s her security team or the event organizers,” one Instagram fan page posted. “Let’s stop pretending she’s the villain for wanting to enjoy a concert safely.”

Others, however, remain unconvinced.

“You can’t preach kindness, empathy, and mental health—and then bulldoze fans out of their seats,” one critic wrote.

What’s Next?

Selena Gomez has not issued any additional public statement, and her representatives have yet to respond to media inquiries. Whether the backlash will have a lasting impact on her brand or is simply a brief misstep in the public eye remains to be seen.

For now, one thing is clear: when it comes to Cowboy Carter, the only person fans wanted to see center stage was Beyoncé—and no amount of celebrity privilege should have changed that.