What should’ve been a magical, unforgettable night at Wembley turned into a distressing and painful experience for one Oasis fan, after chaos broke out in the crowd over a pair of Liam Gallagher’s maracas.
The Moment Things Went Sideways
Chantal Arpino, a 42-year-old mortgage advisor from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, had spent nearly £1,000 on tickets to see Liam Gallagher live—an event she was beyond excited for.
But that excitement quickly turned to shock and pain.
Toward the end of the performance, Liam threw a pair of maracas into the crowd.
Chantal, standing about 11 rows back, managed to catch them. That’s when things took a nasty turn.
Attacked in the Crowd Over a Souvenir
According to Chantal, two men immediately started grappling with her to steal the maracas from her hands.
One man loomed over her, squeezing her fingers with such force that she feared they’d break, while the other man reportedly tried prying her hands open.
“My hands were stuck between the maracas,” she recalled. “I was shouting at them, ‘You’re hurting me.
You’re going to snap my fingers!’ but they just didn’t stop.”
She now has visible cuts on her hands—likely from her own nails during the struggle—and painful bruises on her legs from what she believes was one of the men kneeling on her.
“It Wasn’t Even About Gender—Just Basic Human Decency”
Chantal said what hurt more than the bruises was the sheer aggression over something so small.
“It would’ve been a lovely keepsake, but their behaviour… it’s not about being a girl. Why behave like that at all?”
Photos later surfaced online showing a group of men holding the maracas, with one man—identified as Adam Warwick—posting on Facebook: “Yes we got one! Anyone see my mate in the black T-shirt grab it?” Though it’s not confirmed if this group was involved in the scuffle, the post drew swift backlash from other fans.
Facebook Backlash and a Message of Respect
After the incident, Chantal took to Facebook to share her side of the story and to remind fans that no souvenir is worth hurting someone over.
“Just a little reminder to not behave like animals, please,” she wrote.
“It’s not OK to wrestle someone to the ground for any reason—let alone for a pair of maracas.”
She continued, “Two guys against one girl—completely unacceptable.
My hands were trapped. I couldn’t even defend myself.”
Her post quickly went viral in fan groups, with hundreds of people responding in outrage and support.
Some called the behaviour “disgusting” and “assault,” while others praised Chantal for speaking out.
Still Grateful—Despite the Bruises
Despite the chaos, Chantal says she still had a great time at the concert and won’t let the incident overshadow her entire night.
“The bruises and cuts will fade, but the memories of a brilliant night won’t,” she shared. “It was just a shame that’s how it ended.”
She added, “This was just a chance to remind everyone—don’t lose your humanity in the heat of the moment.”
A Tragic Incident the Day Before
Sadly, Chantal’s story wasn’t the only troubling moment from the weekend’s shows.
A day earlier, a fan died after falling from the upper tier of Wembley’s block 511.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the man, believed to be in his 40s, suffered fatal injuries after the fall late Saturday night, around 10:19 p.m., shortly after the concert ended.
What’s Next?
As fans continue to reflect on both the excitement and heartbreak of the shows, one thing is clear—concerts are meant to bring people together, not tear them apart over souvenirs.
Chantal hopes her story will remind others to act with kindness, even in high-energy, emotional moments.
“It doesn’t matter whether I was a woman or not,” she said. “Just be better humans.”