Country music star Riley Green needed five stitches after a fan hurled a phone at him during a concert in Australia, striking him in the ear and leaving him bleeding onstage.
The violent incident unfolded on Saturday night at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, where the 37-year-old was performing as part of his “Cowboy As It Gets” tour. Videos captured the shocking moment when a phone thrown from the crowd clipped the Alabama native in the ear, forcing him to pause mid-performance and remove his guitar.
Green immediately demanded the house lights be turned on to identify the person responsible. With help from the crowd, he pointed out the offender to security. “Get his fat a– out of here. Go on,” he commanded as security dragged the alleged phone-thrower from the arena while thousands of fans booed.
The singer appeared unaware of his injury at first. After the fan’s removal, crew members rushed to his side with towels, wiping away blood that was already running down his neck. Green addressed the audience with characteristic humor despite the ordeal, joking about his toughness and quipping about the phone model before slinging his guitar back on and finishing the show.
After the performance, he posted an update to his Instagram Stories showing himself receiving medical attention backstage. “5 stitches later… sewed up,” he wrote, maintaining a light-hearted tone throughout.
Multiple concertgoers captured the incident and its aftermath on their phones. According to The Sun, some fans characterized the phone-thrower as a “jealous boyfriend.” Green later posted another message on Instagram acknowledging the wild night while expressing gratitude for the audience: “Ole buddy ’bout ran outta anytime minutes last night… but a **** of a time was had.”
Despite the attack, Green maintained his tour schedule. He has two upcoming shows in Sydney at the Hordern Pavilion and will headline on Friday night at CMC Rocks QLD in Ipswich, Queensland, as his international run continues.
The incident reflects a troubling trend in the music industry. In 2023, pop singer Bebe Rexha was struck in the face when a concertgoer threw a phone directly at her during a Manhattan show, splitting her eyebrow and requiring stitches. Country star Zach Bryan also had to stop a show at the Tacoma Dome in late 2024 after an item struck one of his on-stage guests.
Green has become a global phenomenon in recent years, with heartfelt songs like “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” “There Was This Girl,” and “Different ‘Round Here” featuring Luke Combs resonating with audiences through honest storytelling and his signature southern drawl. He won Musical Event of the Year at the 2025 CMA Awards for his duet “You Look Like You Love Me” with Ella Langley.
The Jacksonville native supported Morgan Wallen at BST Hyde Park in London on July 4, 2024, marking his first performance outside North America. He returned to the United Kingdom last September for sold-out headline shows on his “**** Country Music Tour.”
When not touring, Green prefers life on his farm in Alabama over the Nashville spotlight. At the recent “Marshals” premiere, he told Fox News Digital: “I feel like I’ve got every reason in the world to move to Nashville, and it’s just never crossed my mind. I love my farm in Alabama, and it’s the place I draw all my inspiration for songs from.”
On his days off, Green works on his farm with his father, tends to his animals and dogs, and operates a tractor for clearing land. The downtime provides a stark contrast to his busy performance schedule and new ventures in entertainment.
Green is making his acting debut in “Marshals,” a “Yellowstone” spinoff led by Luke Grimes that premiered on March 1, 2025 on CBS. The country star plays Garrett, a former Navy SEAL who arrives at the ranch seeking help to “put the demons of his past to rest.” Green admitted to Fox News Digital that stepping onto a television set proved far more nerve-wracking than performing onstage, calling himself “the new guy in that bunch.”
Green and Grimes developed a friendship when Grimes came to Nashville to pursue his own music career, leading to songwriting sessions together. Grimes suggested Green try acting, and the country star said he had been considering the idea for some time. The opportunity came together quickly—Green flew out, read for the role on Saturday, and started filming by Monday.
Fans flooded social media with messages of support after the Melbourne incident, praising his toughness and ability to continue the show despite the injury.