The Riverside Theater in Milwaukee abruptly ended Patti LaBelle’s performance Friday night when the building was evacuated due to a bomb threat.
The singer was removed from the stage by venue security when she was speaking with a fan in between songs, according to reports from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Rolling Stone. Several concertgoers recorded the event on camera. After LaBelle left, the audience was safely ushered out of the location. No explosive devices were found, the police later confirmed. LaBelle’s representatives have been contacted by Pitchfork for comment.
Milwaukee Police Captain Warren E. Allen Jr. provided a statement to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in which he stated: “Regarding the bomb threat in the 100 block of W. Wisconsin, all patrons have been safely evacuated. Police are clearing the facility at this time. The investigation is fluid and ongoing.”
In an additional statement, Allen wrote that the venue was searched by K9 units, and that “no explosive devices were discovered.” He concluded that there “is no threat to the public at this time.”
The Riverside Theater’s operator, the Pabst Theater Group, tweeted in the early hours of this morning to announce the cancellation of LaBelle’s performance owing to the bomb threat. “We are thankful for the efforts of the Milwaukee Police Department and our customers and staff for their safe and orderly exit,” the firm responded that they are coordinating a new date for the event with LaBelle.
