Cheryl had an eventful evening at Girls Aloud’s Newcastle gig last night when she was almost pulled off stage into the crowd.
Alongside Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle and Kimberly Walsh, Cheryl took to the stage at the Utilita Arena to perform their biggest noughties classics in what is proving to be a rollercoaster reunion tour for the Jump hitmakers.
The pop icon, 40, gave a teary speech to the arena of Geordies and remembered how she left the city with ‘a suitcase and a dream’ and is now back 22 years later.
A video of her words has circulated on social media, with many flocking to the comments section with love for the Newcastle-born star.
However another video, filmed by fan in the audience @Emily741_, saw Cheryl reaching out into the crowd in a ‘terrifying’ moment that almost saw her topple off stage.
Fans are fuming at the footage, as it appears a concert-goer attempted to pull Cheryl into the crowd as she reached down to greet them.
In her sparkling black leotard, Cheryl can be seen leaning down and losing balance before the bodyguard grabbed the star’s arm to stop her falling.
In response to the incident, the surrounding crowd gasped and groaned in disapproval, as someone can be heard off camera apologising.
Cheryl and Girls Aloud fans fumed at the scene, as @Nath_2389 took to X and said: ‘I genuinely believe these sort of “fans” need to be hauled up on stage and told off whilst everyone boos at them. Why would you try and pull her off the stage ffs?!’
@joealoud added: ‘You can see the panic in her eyes at the end. I hope she wasn’t too shaken.’
‘Pathetic behaviour!! Cheryl is the one who interacts most with people, this may put her off (and rightly so tbh) but it’s hardly fair is it?!? What is wrong with some people,’ wrote @AlouderKiwi91.
‘Absolutely no need in doing this to any artist on stage, ever. Must’ve been terrifying. BIN,’ said @seanbschmn, while @hopevndyneswife asked: ‘The hell is wrong with people?’
Elsewhere in the evening, Cheryl’s speech was received with almighty cheers from the crowd.
‘Can I be honest with you,’ she began. ‘I’ve really been having to focus..’ she continued, before she was forced to stop and wipe away tears as the crowd roared their encouragement.
Nicola then gave Cheryl a hug, and informed the arena: ‘She’s getting emotional.’
Composing herself, Cheryl continued: ‘I was doing well wasn’t I? I don’t think you could ever really know what it’s like to be stood here 22 years later in a room full of Geordies, the place where I dreamed a dream.
‘When I left from the Central [train station] 22 years ago, I could never have imagined being with you all tonight.
‘So thank you, from the bottom of my heart for everything you’ve done. I left with a suitcase and a dream and I’m back with my best friends 22 years later.
‘Anybody out there with a dream, I hope we are an example that you can do it. Believe in yourself. Don’t let anybody tell you different. You’ve got this.
‘Right I’m going to knock all this crying on the head Newcastle, and do it after the show,’ she finished, before telling her fellow Geordies to sing along as loud as they can.
The tour is dedicated to late bandmate Sarah Harding, who died of breast cancer in 2021.
The singers won Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 and formed Girls Aloud, going on to achieve four UK number one singles and a Brit award for hit song The Promise.
They reunited with new music for their 10th anniversary in 2012, while a second reunion was in the planning stages for their 20th anniversary before Harding was diagnosed with cancer.
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