Australian singer-songwriter Amy Shark confronted a male audience member who appeared distracted by his mobile phone during her live performance of her hit track “I Said Hi,” posting footage of the awkward interaction to TikTok on Friday with the caption, “I take my job very seriously thank you.”
Amy Shark Confronts Distracted Mobile Phone User Live on Stage
- The Australian artist, legally named Amy Louise Billings, zeroed in on a seated guest at a corporate event and sat in his lap while belting out lyrics.
- After the interaction, Billings stood up, shrugged off the moment, and drank a glass of champagne from the attendee’s table.
- Fans reacted with mixed opinions in the TikTok comments section, with some praising her humor and others defending the audience member’s right to use a phone.
The Viral Corporate Event Interaction and Fan Reactions
The incident occurred while Billings moved through a crowd seated at large round tables during a performance reported by Nine.com.au. Spotting a guest fixated on his mobile device rather than the music, the singer closed the distance and parked herself directly in his lap.
“This is the best event of my life,” Billings remarked between verses to scattered chuckles from the room, having written “This guy wasn’t watching me enough” across the digital video clip. The man responded with a bashful shrug while the camera focused on the awkward exchange.
While online supporters commended the singer for handling a disengaged crowd member with sharp comedic timing, critics offered pushback. “Not everyone likes your music, and that’s OK,” one commenter wrote under the TikTok post, highlighting the divide among viewers regarding performer-audience etiquette.
Resfaced Grand Final Remarks and Live Music Industry Strains
The viral video arrives alongside renewed attention on Billings’ past commentary regarding the Australian live performance and sports entertainment sectors. Remarks she made criticizing the National Rugby League for underpaying music artists during an Australian Football League event in April 2025 resurfaced earlier in October 2026.
Speaking to a VIP crowd at the AFL’s Gather Round, Billings stated: “I’m from Queensland, so unfortunately I’ve had NRL pushed in front of me, which kind of sucks. I’m not just saying that because I’m playing tonight. You guys [at the AFL], you know what’s up.” She followed up the remarks by addressing the room directly: “In case someone is filming this … actually you know what, screw them. Honestly, they just screw around artists, you guys actually understand artists, thank you for doing that.”
| Event Year | Sporting Code / Organization | Billing / Role Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | NRL | Headline performer at the grand final. |
| 2025 | AFL (Gather Round) | Guest performer; made controversial remarks regarding artist compensation. |
| 2026 | NRL | Grand Final pre-game entertainment act alongside Dave Gleeson, Grinspoon, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, and Peking Duk. |
Clearing the Air Ahead of the Grand Final Spotlight
The resurfacing of the 2025 footage occurred just hours after official announcements named Billings as part of the entertainment lineup for the 2026 NRL Grand Final. Promptly addressing the digital backlash, Billings took to social media to clarify her stance, writing, “11 months ago. I love the game… don’t believe the noise.”
Billings subsequently fulfilled her performance obligations at the 2026 grand final event, sharing the stage with prominent Australian rock and electronic acts, including Dave Gleeson of The Screaming Jets, members of Grinspoon, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, and Reuben Styles of Peking Duk, steering the narrative back to live execution rather than corporate friction.
