The promoter of RnB music festival Juicy Fest — which is coming to Perth this Sunday — has apologised for some “undesirables” who have caused mayhem at the recent event in New Zealand, including one concertgoer who witnessed a man’s ear being bitten off.
The festival on January 6 in Auckland ended with 12 arrests and gang intimidation — involving an incident where a man had part of his ear bitten off by a gang member, according to the New Zealand Herald.
A witness said the incident occurred after the man retaliated to the group’s “barking dog chant” when he put his fist up in the Black Power salute — a prominent gang in New Zealand.
“We can only apologise if a small number of undesirables ruined the experience for some and would hate for this to tarnish what was, for the most part, a positive event for most,” Juicy Fest founder Glenn Meikle said.
“Overall every Juicy Fest event has been a great day celebrating R&B & hip hop and we of course take learnings from each.”
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The founder said gang regalia was banned at the events, however, a witness claimed there was a heavy gang presence at the Auckland event, with people sporting gang tattoos, patches and chanting.
The witness also claimed the gang aggression and intimidation had overpowered the music concert which saw artists T-Pain, Ashanti Trey Songz and more perform.
The chaotic Auckland show comes after the Wellington event where a concertgoer said it was overrun by gang members in the festival’s VVIP (Very, Very Important Person) area.
Last year’s Juicy Fest event in Perth was swirling in controversy after major safety concerns were raised when the venue ran out of water and four people were taken to hospital within two hours due to heat exhaustion, as well as a violent attack on a security guard.
Temperatures had reached 38C at Red Hill Auditorium with thousands of revellers gathered to watch the international acts — prompting more than eight ambulance interventions.
A St John WA spokeswoman confirmed paramedics responded to dozens of calls for help after people collapsed in the crowds due to the heat.
An upset concertgoer online claimed: “The venue ran out water with two hours of gates opening and all non-alcoholic drinks with the exception of Redbull not long after that. Not even the portaloos had water to flush or wash hands with.”
Another said the “health and safety” wasn’t “taken seriously at all”.
At the same event, a female security guard was violently attacked from behind.
According to police, the guard was pulled to the ground from behind by her hair and kicked in the ribs by an “unknown person”.
The festival has scheduled nine shows across New Zealand and Australia and is taking place in Perth on January 14 at Fremantle Oval from 12pm.