Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker has pulled the plug on signing autographs and posing for photos after claiming he was swarmed by “aggressive autograph hounds” – some of whom he says are now using children to get close to him.
The End of Summer singer took to Instagram Stories to issue a PSA, telling fans he won’t be stopping outside hotels or airports anymore on the Deadbeat Tour.
He wrote: “Hey guys quick PSA to say due to the rise of aggressive autograph hounds I won’t be signing anything or doing photos out the front of hotels or at airports at all anymore, so if you happen to catch me please don’t be offended if I say no.
“I wasn’t that passionate about it before but they’ve started using kids which I think is all kinds of wrong.
“Love you guys.”
He also pointed out how autograph hunters operate by sharing a Google search.
The 40-year-old musician also revealed he’s halting his usual post-show meet-and-greets. He said he’d been heading out to parking lots to greet fans “for a while in Europe” but the crowds had ballooned beyond what his team could safely manage.
He noted: “We don’t have the security to handle it.
“So my team has asked me not to,.
“So please have the best time at the shows and get home safe!”
The tour continues in Denver on September 11.
In May, Russell Crowe had a brusque exchange with autograph hunters outside a hotel after a video of the encounter went viral.
The Gladiator star, 62, was filmed interacting with the group who approached him as he exited a hotel in Paris, France, with Russell seen giving them a gruff warning and threatening he would be “gone” if anyone acted like a “d***”.
He said: “Are you listening? Stay where you are. Don’t f*** push in on me. I’ll come to you. Give everybody space. As soon as somebody’s a d, I’m gone. You got me? Clear?”
The video sparked debate online about Russell’s treatment of fans, but the Oscar-winner defended himself explaining that he successfully set boundaries without requiring any help from “security”.
In a message posted on X, he wrote: “Clickbait. Everybody got their autograph and selfie, the passage to the hotel was kept free for guests, and I still got to the airport on time.
“One man, no security. Handled. What’s your problem?”
