Frank Carter had a man removed from a Sex Pistols show after he objected to the singer creating a women-only mosh pit.
The incident took place during the band’s show at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, Colorado on Friday night (October 9), as Carter prepared to introduce a women-only mosh pit ahead of ‘No Feelings’.
Carter has been setting aside part of the show for women to mosh during the band’s current North American run, and footage from Denver shows a man in the crowd interrupting him as he began explaining the idea.
“Every time, there’s always a fucking man that tells me, ‘[Women] can do this all the fucking time,’” Carter told him. “Like, they can’t. They fucking can’t. Do you know why? Because they walk in the mosh pit and they get a fucking elbow to the head by a fucking idiot!”
When the man appeared to shake his head in response, Carter continued: “You’re shaking your head like you’re a fucking woman? Are you fucking stupid? It’s not your lived experience, so just shut the fuck up!
“Do you know what, instead of crouching, just fucking leave, bro!”
He went on: “How is it so difficult for you to see space made for women at a Sex Pistols gig? Did you decide? No! They can’t fucking do this whenever. Ask any one of them if they feel safe in every mosh pit!
“Roll your fucking eyes at me – you fucking did this. You did this!”
The man then appeared to raise the fact that the venue had an all-gender bathroom, to which Carter replied: “That’s brilliant. I’m fucking super grateful that there’s an all-gender bathroom here. I love that.”
Growing increasingly exasperated, he hit his microphone against his head and added: “That’s what it’s like. Banging your fucking head off a brick wall.”
Carter initially attempted to move on and address the other men in the audience about their responsibility during the mosh pit, but after being interrupted again, called over security and asked them to remove the concertgoer.
“Oi, security, just get this fucking lump outta here,” he said, before telling the man: “And you know what? If you’ve got a fucking problem with me, you can see me outside after the gig.”
Once the attendee had been removed, Carter resumed his explanation, telling the women in the crowd that the pit was intended to give them an opportunity to dance without the fear of being hit, groped or intimidated, before launching into ‘No Feelings’.
Carter later doubled down on his stance in a series of Instagram Stories on Saturday (October 10).
“If you are a man who gets offended by a band making room for a female only moshpit then you are PART OF THE PROBLEM,” he wrote. “Stay home, read a book by Bell Hooks, come back when kindness, compassion and empathy have landed with you.
“Incels, homophobes, misogynists, racists, fascists not welcome. Also this isn’t up for debate. I don’t care for your pedantry. If it isn’t your lived experience, don’t fucking speak on it.
“If you are offended by being told something isn’t for you then imagine how it feels to be a woman in the current climate.”
He also clarified that when he referred to a women-only mosh pit, he meant a trans-inclusive space.
“When I say a Ladies only moshpit pit, I of course mean a trans inclusionary space,” he wrote. “The space is for people who don’t usually feel safe… To dance and have fun without the worry of physical, sexual or psychological violence being used against them while they are vulnerable.
“DO NOT LET THEM DIVIDE US.”
Carter also shared a message purportedly sent by the father of the man who had been removed, who apologised for “my idiotic son” and said his behaviour was not how he had been raised or taught. He added that the man’s sisters were also upset with him and blamed misinformation for influencing his actions.
Creating women-only mosh pits is something Carter has been doing for years. Speaking to NME about the practice in 2019, he said it was “100 per cent something that the band will do forever”, explaining: “It’s just the happiest mosh pit you’ve ever seen.”
Carter first joined Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock to front the Sex Pistols at a series of benefit shows for London’s Bush Hall in 2024, and the collaboration has continued since.
Their current North American dates were originally due to take place last year, before the tour was postponed after Jones broke his wrist.
They will return to the UK and Ireland in December for their ‘50 Years Of Punk’ tour – check out the full list of dates here and find any remaining tickets here.
