What happens when a performer feels like the crowd is not even trying?
At a New Year celebration in Singapore, K-pop legend Rain made headlines after halting his show mid-performance and openly questioning whether the audience was ready to party at all.
What was meant to be a lively countdown quickly turned awkward when the veteran performer stopped mid-set, not due to technical issues, but because he felt the audience was simply too quiet and unresponsive.
‘Hey guys, why are you doing this?’
In a TikTok clip that has since gone viral, Rain was seen repeatedly trying to hype up the crowd during his performance in Singapore. He encouraged them to sing along, dance, and respond louder, but the reaction from the audience appeared noticeably subdued.
As the silence continued, his remarks grew increasingly blunt.
Stop, stop, stop. Hey guys, why are you doing this? Oh my god. Come on. If you’re this quiet, we can’t have fun,” he said on stage.
“Are you really going to party like this?”
“If you stop singing, i’m going home”
Rain then issued what many saw as a clear ultimatum to the crowd.
If you stop dancing and stop singing, I’m gonna turn off the music and then go home. Why don’t you stand up? Are you ready? I can’t hear you.”
The sudden pause left many fans stunned, especially those who had waited a long time to see the K-pop icon perform live.
Netizens split over who was in the wrong
The incident quickly sparked debate across social media platforms. Some netizens criticised Rain’s actions, calling them unprofessional and arguing that performers should adapt to different crowd dynamics rather than publicly scolding fans.
Others, however, defended him, saying the audience’s low energy would have frustrated any artist trying to deliver a high-energy New Year set.
Several users also pointed out cultural differences, noting that crowds in Singapore tend to be more reserved compared to audiences in other countries, especially during large public countdown events.
Watch the clip here:
