Anita Baker wants fans to be present during her shows.
The legendary singer was performing in Houston, Texas, on Friday night (Dec. 15), when she told fans to stop recording her performance with their phones, as seen in videos shared to TikTok. In the clip, Baker ad-libbed while singing her 1983 hit, “Feel the Need.” “Early in the morning! Late in the evening, baby,” she sang, before requesting, “Turn off the camera, baby, I don’t know who you are, move back!”
“Get on back, I don’t know who that is,” she continued while singing. In another clip, Baker asks security to remove some fans from the front row, though it’s not clear if it was because of the phones or another reason.
In June, Baker’s tour made headlines after she removed Babyface as her accompanying act. “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,” Baker wrote on social media alongside an updated tour poster that doesn’t feature her former opener’s name on it.
In a statement to Billboard, Babyface said that he was “saddened” that he’s no longer on the tour. “It’s unfortunate and disheartening to see how things have played out via social media,” he said at the time. “While I was looking forward to the rest of the dates, I have nothing but love and respect for Anita and I wish her the best for the remainder of her tour.”
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