Mario is clearing the air after his viral onstage outburst at the Big Fresno Fair drew widespread attention — and mixed reactions — over the weekend. The R&B singer took to Instagram on October 14 to explain what really happened during his October 12 performance, saying the situation was a “misunderstanding, not a meltdown.”
“People are misinformed about the Fresno situation,” the Baltimore native began in a series of Instagram Story posts.
According to Mario, he arrived at the venue just ten minutes before showtime and had no idea that a videographer had been cleared to film his set. When he noticed the cameraman moving near him on stage, he said it disrupted his focus and performance.
“Multiple times while seeing the cameraman through my peripheral, I got distracted and one time almost tripped over a speaker trying to make sure I’m not walking in the same direction as him,” he explained. “He was too far down stage. A cameraman is not supposed to be that far down stage unless he’s with you and shooting you that close for a reason. It really can throw you off.”
The Viral Moment
During the show, Mario stopped mid-performance and angrily told the cameraman to leave the stage — shouting,
“Get the f*** off the stage!”
The clip quickly went viral, sparking online debate. Some fans criticized Mario’s tone, calling it “unprofessional,” while others defended him for protecting his space and prioritizing safety.
Mario’s Response & Apology
In his statement, Mario acknowledged that his emotions “got the best of him.”
“I will take accountability for being a 0-to-100 type of person and this is why I stay out the way most of the time,” he wrote. “I never want one recorded incident to wipe away the work I’ve done as a person to stay out of y’all mouths and the blogs!”
The “Let Me Love You” singer also extended an olive branch to the videographer, offering an apology and even inviting him to film his upcoming “Nothing But Us” tour — this time, “the right way.”
“I’m always about love, energy, and professionalism,” Mario added. “No hard feelings at all.”
With his apology, Mario hopes to move past the incident and refocus on what he’s best known for — delivering soulful performances and connecting with fans.
