This year KROQ put on their annual Almost Acoustic Christmas festival, which featured rock’s best music. Some of the acts included Morrissey, Muse, Phoenix, and Queens of the Stone age. The festival took place this year on December 9th and 10th, but some concert-goers saw more than they came for.
During the set of Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme was playing a guitar lick when he suddenly swung his foot, kicking a female press photographer in the face on Almost Acoustic Christmas’ first night. According to Variety Magazine, the female photographer named Chelsea Lauren on assignment for Shutterstock, says that Homme’s actions were unwarranted and that “Homme was even smiling before he struck her.”
Homme released a statement today stating “Last night, while in a state of being lost in the performance” and that “he did not mean for that to happen and [he] [is] very sorry.” If you watch the video you can see Homme walking aimlessly before he takes a step back and swings his leg, kicking Lauren on the side of her face, knocking her down. Lauren has also stated that Homme looked straight at her before kicking her face. As the night moved on, Lauren continued shooting photographs during 30 Seconds to Mars. When she went to Cedars-Sinai Medical center to get checked out a social worker who worked at the hospital caught the video and urged Lauren to press charges due to her serious injury.
Josh Homme’s erratic behavior continued to spiral downwards moments after the incident involving Chelsea Lauren. Lauren states that Homme later took out something that resembled a knife. He then proceeded to cut his own forehead, letting blood drip down for the rest of the show (known as “blading” in wrestling as a provocation move). Apparently, this is not the first time Homme has acted distastefully as noted by Variety. A numerous amount of concert-goers claim Homme also yelled at the audience calling them “retards” before yelling “F–k Muse.” According to Spin Magazine, he then took it even a step further, commanding the crowd to take their pants off so that he can “give [them] all a night [they’ll] never remember.”
This has not been the first time Homme has acted in such a way according to Pitchfork. In March, Homme was sued by an autograph collector for allegedly threatening and grabbing the collector by the shoulders.
Although Homme has been seen in a bad light, he is also known for calling out hecklers and those in the audience acting unsavory. Homme says, “I’m the only one with a mic so I think sometimes it perhaps looks like I’m bullying somebody – and I actually am.” If we look at this quote there may be some conscious decision making on Hommes part. Chelsea Lauren was released from Cedars-Sinai hospital on Sunday morning, check out her video below of the incident.
UPDATE (12/11): Josh Homme recorded and posted an apology video on Facebook. Check out the video below.
Photo credit: Alyssa Fried
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