Concerts are meant to be a place of fun, music, and memories—but sometimes, the most unforgettable moments aren’t on the stage.
Recently, a mum attending a Maluma concert in Mexico City found herself at the centre of a jaw-dropping scene that left the entire audience—and the internet—buzzing.
It all started when Colombian superstar Maluma, in the middle of his high-energy + PRETTY + DIRTY World Tour, suddenly stopped the show.
But it wasn’t a technical glitch or a rowdy fan that caught his attention. Instead, it was something much more surprising: a mother with a tiny baby, right near the front of the crowd.
Now, we all know concerts can get loud—sometimes ear-splittingly so. The thumping bass, the screaming fans, the blaring speakers… it’s enough to make anyone’s ears ring for days.
So, when Maluma spotted the baby, he couldn’t help but intervene. He paused the music, addressed the mum directly, and asked how old the little one was. When she replied that her child was just a year old, Maluma didn’t mince words.
'With all due respect, how old is the baby? One year? And do you think it was a good idea to bring a one-year-old to a concert where the decibels are this f****** high? Next time, you have to protect his ears or something. This is your responsibility.'
Maluma, who became a father himself last year, spoke not just as a performer but as a parent. 'You’re waving him around like he’s a toy.
'He doesn’t want to be here, really. With love and respect, I’m a father and [I’d never do that]. Next time, be a bit more aware.'
Source: @gerudito / Tiktok.
'These examples aren't "tough love." They're just unkind,' parenting expert Gen Muir recently told Mamamia about public parenting corrections. 'It's simply never good to be unkind or to treat kids in a way we'd never treat an adult. And we now know from the evidence that this can leave long-lasting scars... we now know better.'
According to child development expert Marlena Romero from Children's Hospital Colorado, the idea is to change the behavior; if the teen feels bad enough about it, the reasoning goes, then maybe he'll never do it again.
The problem is that the teen won't just feel bad about the action — he'll feel bad about himself. 'Adolescence is an especially vulnerable time,' Romero says, 'so shaming can be destructive to who they are as their identity forms.'
Yet the Victorian Government's Better Health Channel acknowledges that good discipline helps a child to learn that there are consequences for their actions. Ideally, the consequence should immediately follow the action and should be relevant to the behaviour.
Maluma isn't the first artist to stop a show over safety concerns. The incident joins a growing list of performers who've prioritised fan welfare over entertainment.
First, on our list, we have Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain helping a fan during a 1993 concert in Oakland, California. In the middle of a song, the rock and roll superstar noticed someone getting handsy with a girl in the crowd.
Instead of ignoring the disrespectful act, the frontman stops mid-song and points the man out, telling him to get out of the venue. When guitarist Cobain got back to the mic, he led the charge of shame by saying, 'copping a feel, eh buddy?'
Source: Kurtsmemento / Youtube.
More recently, Adele completely paused one of her Las Vegas residency shows in 2023 to scold security for hounding one young fan in the front row, who'd been repeatedly asked to stay seated during the performance.
'Why are you all bothering him?' the English singer-songwriter demanded, cutting off 'Water Under The Bridge' mid-song. 'Can you leave him alone, please?'
The moment was captured on video and quickly made its way online, sparking a heated debate. Some praised Maluma for speaking up, saying it was about time someone called out unsafe parenting at concerts.
'Good for him for saying something! This reminds me of when people bring their clearly terrified dogs to big music festivals. Their ears are so sensitive, imagine how overwhelming a loud concert must be,' one commenter wrote.
'Totally innapropriate to have a baby without protection but totally inappropriate to single her out like that too. I hate preachy performers,' another netizen added. 'Imagine receiving parenting advice from Maluma in front of thousands of people if I was her I'd never show my face anywhere ever again,' a user expressed.
Others pointed out that the real issue might be with the venue itself. Should infants even be allowed into such loud environments?
'The venues need to crack down on infants at concerts. That’s ridiculous,' said another. Some even suggested that venues should provide or require ear protection for children, or simply ban young kids from attending altogether.
Part of the issue lies with venue policies themselves. While Australia has comprehensive guidelines for concerts and events, specific protections for infants remain patchy.
The only exception is for babies under 12 months – they're welcome to sit on a parent or guardian's lap and won't need a ticket. The only exception is for babies under 12 months – they're welcome to sit on a parent or guardian's lap and won't need a ticket.
This policy from The Wiggles shows some venues do consider infant attendance, but most don't have specific hearing protection requirements.
One commenter on the Maluma video captured many people's thoughts: 'I kind of can't believe venues don't have a policy of no admittance under, say 5 or something at least.'
Did you know?
Safe hearing levels for babies and children
- Normal conversation: 60 decibels
- Safe for extended exposure: 70 decibels or lower
- Hearing damage risk: 85+ decibels for extended periods
- Immediate damage risk: 115+ decibels for just 28 seconds
- Concert levels: Often 90-122 decibels
But not everyone agreed with Maluma’s public approach. A few felt that, while the mum’s decision was questionable, she shouldn’t have been called out in front of thousands.
'He is correct but I’d end it all if I got chastised so publicly,' one person commented. 'Imagine being scolded as a parent by a male pop star in a stadium full of people. Ouch lmfao. Is there a greater embarrassment lol,' said another.
As one parent summed up online: 'The baby's safety should come first, but there had to be a better way to handle this.'
Why Loud Concerts Can Harm Young Ears
Babies and toddlers have more sensitive hearing than adults, making them more vulnerable to permanent hearing damage from loud sounds.
Exposure to sounds over 85 decibels can cause hearing loss—many concerts exceed 100 decibels.
Noise-cancelling headphones or ear defenders are strongly recommended for children at loud events.
Even short-term exposure to extreme noise can result in tinnitus, auditory damage, or stress in infants.
Hearing damage is a real risk for young children, whose ears are much more sensitive than adults.
According to hearing experts, exposure to loud noises—even for a short time—can cause permanent hearing loss in babies and toddlers.
Ear protection, like noise-cancelling headphones, is a must if you’re ever in a loud environment with little ones. And sometimes, the best choice is to leave them at home with a trusted carer.
Of course, we know that finding reliable childcare isn’t always easy, and life doesn’t stop when you have kids or grandkids. But a little planning can go a long way in keeping everyone safe and happy.
Rapper Maluma stops show to call out mother for bringing infant to his Mexico City concert - https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture...-bringing-infant-mexico-city-conce-rcna224400
Maluma Pauses Concert to Scold Mother Who Brought Her Baby Without Ear Protection: ‘For the Next Time, Be a Bit More Aware’ - https://variety.com/2025/music/news...-scold-mother-baby-ear-protection-1236486268/
Noise-induced hearing loss in children: A ‘less than silent’ environmental danger - PMC - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2532893/
AAP Sounds Alarm on Excessive Noise Risks to Children - HealthyChildren.org - https://www.healthychildren.org/Eng...on-excessive-noise-and-risks-to-children.aspx
What Decibel Level Is Safe for Babies | Safe Noise Levels for Babies - https://decibelpro.app/blog/safe-decibel-levels-for-babies/
So, members, what do you think? Was Maluma right to speak up, or should he have handled it differently? Have you ever seen something similar at a concert or event?
And what’s your advice for parents and grandparents who want to share these experiences with their little ones? We’d love to hear your thoughts—share your stories and opinions in the comments below!
Read more: Top radio host makes shocking career move and what it means for fans
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