Sombr Addresses Viral Criticism After Concertgoer Calls His Show “Cringe”

Emerging pop artist Sombr has responded to online criticism following a viral TikTok posted by a concertgoer who described his recent Washington, D.C., performance as “cringe.”

The controversy began after a 25-year-old attendee shared a nearly nine-minute video recounting her experience at Sombr’s Oct. 13 show at The Anthem. In the clip, she advised others not to purchase tickets to his concerts, expressing disappointment at both the audience and the performance. She said she was surprised to find the crowd primarily composed of preteens and younger fans, and criticized Sombr for what she described as immature humor and inappropriate commentary during the show.

The fan referenced a segment called “The Sombr Dating Show,” in which the artist invited audience members onstage to call their exes. She also alleged that Sombr made explicit remarks and asked fans to “bark” for him, which she deemed unsuitable for an underage audience. While she characterized the show as “a nightmare,” she acknowledged that most concertgoers appeared to enjoy it, quoting one attendee who called Sombr “my generation’s David Bowie.”

A few days after the video gained traction, Sombr addressed the situation in a post on his social media accounts, calling the episode “TikTok drama.” He said the backlash had escalated into personal attacks, particularly about his appearance.

“It’s kind of started a massive body-shaming hate train directed towards me on a lot of videos of me on the internet right now,” he said.

Sombr emphasized that his onstage humor reflects the tone of his online content and is part of his established creative identity. “I’ve never uttered a serious word in my life,” he said. “I spend about five minutes making jokes during my shows, the rest is music.”

He also pushed back on the age-based criticism, noting that he is 20 years old and that a younger audience is natural given his demographic. “If you’re 25 years old and you’re going to come to my concert and not expect people younger than you to be there, when I, the artist, am five years younger than you, it’s just a skill issue,” he said.

Sombr added that his concerts are meant to be inclusive spaces. “Every age, sex, sexuality, gender, race, everyone is welcome,” he said. “You guys need to find problematic people to hate on, because I’m just existing.”

The exchange has generated significant discussion online, with fans and critics debating both the original complaint and Sombr’s response. Some viewers defended the artist’s approach and his handling of the criticism, while others questioned the appropriateness of certain onstage moments given his younger fan base.

Sombr, whose debut album I Barely Know Her was released in August, has rapidly emerged as one of the most visible new figures in internet-driven pop. The record includes the singles “Back to Friends” and “12 to 12,” both performed during his appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards. His current tour, which runs through November, is sold out, and he is set to make his Saturday Night Live debut as musical guest alongside host Nikki Glaser on Nov. 8.