Otar Kushanashvili, a well-known TV host, recalled an incident involving singer Valeria at the Metelitsa entertainment complex. According to him, the audience reaction started as curious, then shifted toward hostility as the performance unfolded. The moment when Valeria appeared in white and began singing “My Moscow” became the focal point of a tense scene that evening. The hall, already charged, grew louder with chants demanding that she leave the stage.
Kushanashvili described how the mood changed during the second song, when projectiles were hurled toward the stage and glassware sprayed through the air. He noted that Valeria, aiming to continue, took the stage in spite of the escalating heckling, but the disruptive atmosphere made the situation increasingly dangerous for everyone involved.
In the course of the commotion, a spectator named Marat Safin allegedly rose from his seat and moved toward the platform. An eyewitness account recounted that a beer bottle was grabbed and hurled back into the audience, a moment Kushanashvili framed as part of a chaotic night. He stressed that, after Safin briefly left the scene, there were no further incidents that evening.
The presenter later critiqued a related YouTube program, suggesting the show’s format and the public’s reaction amplified the controversy rather than clarifying it. He attributed some of the publicity to a social media post by a comedian about his own personal life, arguing that the post drew more attention to the scandal and fed public curiosity rather than resolving it. This perspective highlights how commentator commentary can intensify public interest in cultural events that involve performers and fans alike. [citation: Kushanashvili on a YouTube show cited by observers]
In related coverage, it was previously reported that the metal band Aria canceled a concert in Stavropol on the day of the scheduled performance, a development that added to the broader discourse about live shows and artist availability in the region. This sequence underscores how touring plans and public reception can intersect in surprising ways for performers and organizers alike. [citation: regional music press notes on Aria cancellation]