Disturbed fan slammed for texting at gig brands David Draiman a bully

Draiman singled her out at Dallas gig

Published 31st Mar 2016

A Disturbed fan slammed by David Draiman for texting and Facebooking during a live show has called the singer a bully and vowed never to see the band again.

During Disturbed’s sold-out show at the House of Blues in Dallas last week (23rd March), Draiman picked out a female audience member who was using her phone.

With sections of the audience cheering on, Draiman blasted: "What is so important going on in the world that you need to be texting the entire fing show? The whole show. You're right up front, I can see you clear as day. You've had your face in your fing phone the whole goddamn show. Are we that boring?

"Don't tell me to go f myself. You already did by looking in your phone instead of paying attention. It's fing rude.

"If you don't want to watch, don't watch. But don't stand there in front of the fing stage in the front row of the balcony where everybody can see you texting the whole fing time on your phone."

Now, the woman in question Shannon Pardue has spoken out saying she was messaging her 14-year-old daughter and felt like a bully victim.

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“I looked down and everybody was staring at me,” Pardue told the Dallas Observer. “Have you ever seen a movie where a dorky kid is standing there and 20 bullies are making fun of him, making him feel alienated? That’s what happened to me.”

She added: “At first it ticked me off. But then I just wanted to go away. I told my husband, ‘The most embarrassing thing in my life just happened to me.’

“Rock stars wouldn’t be where they are without people who come to pay for the show. Whether I had my eyes on him or not, I am still there and I can hear them. He’s an amazing singer, and they were good, but it was just his attitude. I’ll never pay to see him again.”

Writing on Facebook, Draiman has justified his actions, saying: “When we musicians go up onstage, bleed for our art, leave everything up there, and someone doesn’t even have the decency to watch for even one song, it’s like a slap in the face.

“We put all we have into what we do. It wasn’t ego, it wasn’t arrogance. It was my shock at the situation, to be honest, especially when so many others would have gladly taken her place.”

You can watch the video of Draiman blasting Pardue below. (Warning: It’s very sweary):