Drake’s second concert for SiriusXM at Harlem’s Apollo Theater on Sunday was halted after a fan fell from the venue’s mezzanine balcony into the audience below.
According to Insider and other reports, the incident occurred around 90 minutes into the show, just after 21 Savage joined Drake onstage to perform songs from their collaborative album. Before they could begin performing, a man fell from the second floor into the orchestra pit, disengaging some of the venue’s lighting.
A crew member ran onstage and asked the rappers to delay the show. “Just gotta make sure somebody’s OK,” Drake told the audience. The concert paused for around 15 minutes while security and other venue staff were seen treating the man and removing the damaged lighting rig.
An announcer then said that no one had been injured in the incident, which was confirmed to PvNew by a rep for the Apollo on Monday.
“Everybody is absolutely OK,” the announcer said over the venue’s P.A. “They are being checked on. Nobody’s hurt. But I got even better news for you: We’re at the Apollo so the show must go on.”
The Apollo’s statement reads in full: “Unfortunately, last evening an incident occurred with an audience member who landed in the orchestra from the lower mezzanine. Drake, Apollo and SiriusXM halted the show immediately when learning of a potential fan injury and standard protocols were taken. They were seen immediately by EMS on site. The fan and other audience members reported that they were OK. No major injuries have been reported. The Apollo is investigating the situation further.”
Reps for the Apollo and SiriusXM did not immediately respond to PvNew’s requests for comment.
Drake had to pause his show tonight after someone accidentally fell off the balcony. He’s okay and they kept on preforming. pic.twitter/EWKBDIF3mN
— Drake Direct (@DrakeDirect_) January 23, 2023
Drake and Savage then resumed the show, performing songs from their 2022 dual album, “Her Loss.”
“Let’s just make some noise that everybody’s OK,” Drake said in between tracks, adding, “I feel like they had to wait like 10 minutes, we should go up a little more.”
Like many special SiriusXM concerts at the Apollo, this one was a special, career-retrospective concert for the headlining artist, which in the past have included Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, U2, Bruce Springsteen and others. PvNew reviewed the first night of the two-show stand.
At the end of the show, he said, “This crowd is an absolute 10 out of 10. I’m so happy with tonight. We apologize for the delays and all that shit, but thank you,” he said, calling it “an evening of gratitude.”
