“This Breaks My Heart”: Diplo Concert Cancelled Mid-Set After Crowd Shooting
" All I can ask God for is that he can protect everyone when we are gathering to celebrate. We want all our shows to be a safe place."
Diplo’s street party in São Paulo was cancelled mid-set after two people were shot in the crowd as he played.
The DJ played a street party this past Tuesday as part of Brazil’s Carnival celebrations, but was soon surrounded by security after two gun shots sounded out. According to Remezcla, a man was shot in the stomach and a woman in the thigh (potentially caught in the crossfire) after he “attempted to snatch a chain off of someone’s neck”.
Diplo was performing on a truck above the crowd at the time of the shooting, and was pushed down onto its roof by security guards before he was removed from the event.
Via a post today on Instagram, Diplo confirmed everyone involved is alive. He also offered love to his Brazilian fans, and apologised for not being able to finish his set, which ended up being cancelled due to a thunderstorm just as the DJ was given the all-clear to perform.
“We were actually ready 15 minutes later to get on and do a show for everyone in Sao Paulo just as we made sure the medical teams were good,” he wrote. “But that’s when thunder and lightning started to pour down as if Brazil started to cry. I will see you next year São Paulo because you know we love you.”
The caption accompanied pictures taken by photographer Amauri Nehn of Diplo ducking for cover, as well as video footage of the crowd during the shooting — you can hear the gunshots, and see the crowd stop dancing. Diplo also stated that this isn’t the Brazil he knows, and that he hopes the ‘carnival spirit’ doesn’t change.
“This breaks my heart that someone was hurt during a party. All I can ask God for is that he can protect everyone when we are gathering to celebrate. We want all our shows to be a safe place.”
“I know that Brazil is considered dangerous from outsiders but I have been coming here for twenty years and have never seen this kind of violence violence until today. People tell me that I’m lucky. In the aftermath I know everyone is alive but I’m praying for them and I know it’s not going to change the carnival spirit.”
See his post below, including (non-graphic) footage of the crowd during the shooting.