Anita Baker Seemingly Annoyed at Fan in Front Row Taking Picture During Concert, Requests for Them to Be Removed

'The Songstress' has lost patience with some crowd members during her nationwide tour.

Paras Griffin / Getty Images

Note to self: don't get on Anita Baker's bad side.

The R&B legend has once again gone viral for her onstage antics, this time during stops on The Songstress Tour, where she's demanded crowd members to stop taking pictures of her and to be removed from the venue.

In Houston, Baker told someone in the audience to stop taking pictures of her, although it wasn't specified if the device was a phone or camera. “Turn off the camera, baby, I don’t know who you are, move back!” she shouted while singing her 1983 song "Feel the Need." “Get on back, I don’t know who that is."

Another clip shows Baker calling security, asking them to escort someone out. "Security, help them out, and I mean out of my front row," she said.

Apparently Anita Baker’s out on tour wild’n…. pic.twitter.com/na3VkmylZV

— Carl Thomas’ Turtleneck (Real Name’s KJ) (@therealkj4) December 17, 2023
Twitter: @therealkj4

Other Baker fans have commented on the viral moment, claiming her behavior has been known for years.

People are finally realizing that she’s always had a disgusting spirit, Mikki Howard, babyface, China Anne McClain all said it. Where there’s smoke there’s a forest fire.

— 𝕄𝔸ℝℂ (@saturnblooze) December 17, 2023
Twitter: @saturnblooze

She need to sit down!!! Thought she retired. Years of being rude and mean

— haas_2001 (@2001_haas) December 17, 2023
Twitter: @2001_haas

Apparently this is very on brand for her.

— . . Nikia . . (@SheNICE2) December 17, 2023
Twitter: @SheNICE2

I was there so imma speak. People kept rushing the stage and interrupting her and security was just letting it happen. I would’ve done the same thing bc they were messing up other people’s experience who paid money too. It was a sold out arena she can’t just let everyone run up

— André Marcel Harris, MSW (@andreharris89) December 17, 2023
Twitter: @andreharris89

People come to those concerts and play "photographer" play press disturbing the experience of people who purchased a ticket. Anita Baker doesn't play those games. Her fans know that. And appreciate she is a perfectionist. It's HER show.

— Jennifer Grady (@jenngradybklyn) December 17, 2023
Twitter: @jenngradybklyn

In June, Baker removed Babyface as the supporting act on her tour, writing on X that she endured "Cyber Bulling [sic]/Verbal Abuse & Threats of Violence from the Fan Base." The rift started when Babyface claimed that his opening set in Newark, New Jersey in May was scrapped at the request of Baker's team.

"I was asked not to perform in order to give Ms. Baker her space and time to perform her show in its entirety. My band and I are extremely saddened we didn't get to perform for y'all tonight," Babyface wrote at the time. Afterward, Baker received hate messages from some of the crooner's fans, although Babyface later told People that his cancelled set was due to technical difficulties.

#AnitaBaker After Silently, Enduring Cyber Bulling/Verbal Abuse & Threats of Violence from the Fan Base, of Our Special Guest❤️/Support Act. In the Interest of Personal Safety. I will continue, The Songstress Tour, alone. Appropriate refunds will be made.
Blessings🎁
ABXO🎼 pic.twitter.com/P7OzVdiEPm

— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 13, 2023
Twitter: @IAMANITABAKER

💔 pic.twitter.com/dIvn4iDeHB

— Babyface (@babyface) June 13, 2023
Twitter: @babyface

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