Kanye West apologizes for being on his phone during Broadway performance

Being on your phone during a stage production is considered pretty rude, especially if it’s opening night, and even if you’re Kanye West.

The artist was called out on Twitter by one of the stars of Cher-inspired musical The Cher Show, Jarrod Spector, for spending time on his phone during Monday’s opening night performance.

West was attending the show with his wife, Kim Kardashian West, a couple that weren’t ever going to blend in with the crowd — or the cast.

“If you look up from your cell phone you’ll see we’re doing a show up here,” tweeted Spector, who plays Sonny Bono, while the performance was underway.

Fellow Broadway star Patti Murin, who plays Princess Anna in the stage production of Disney’s Frozen, backed up Spector’s gripe.

So, what was Kanye doing on his phone while a Broadway musical was serving up its opening night performance? According to the New York Times, West’s representative said the artist was “taking notes.”

“Kanye was on his phone taking notes. He loved the show and was incredibly impressed by the production,” read a statement published by the news outlet.

West apologised, replying to Spector’s tweet, “Please pardon my lack of etiquette. We have so much appreciation for the energy you guys put into making this master piece.”

The Times also pointed out Kanye wasn’t the only person with their phone on during the performance, with a few forgetful theatregoers reportedly sporting buzzing phones.

And he’s not the only celebrity to be called out for being on their phone during a Broadway performance, with one of the more famous instances involving two-time Tony Award winner Patti Lupone, who snatched an audience member’s phone away mid-performance at Shows for Days.

Madonna was once busted for being on her phone during an Off-Broadway performance of Hamilton, with Lin-Manuel Miranda reportedly unhappy with the pop icon. 

In a now-deleted tweet, the show’s creator wrote: “Tonight was the first time I asked stage management NOT to allow a celebrity (who was texting all through Act 2) backstage. #noselfieforyou.”

Tony Award-nominee and Hamilton cast member Jonathan Groff went even further, saying he had no remorse for Madonna, “because that bitch was on her phone. You couldn’t miss it from the stage. It was a black void of the audience in front of us and her face there perfectly lit by the light of her iPhone through three-quarters of the show.”

Celebrities, your fellow audience members might not be able to see you on your phone during a performance, but the cast sure can. 

Read more: http://mashable.com/