Benson Boone brutally trolled after people point out phallic detail in stage set up
Topics: Music, Entertainment, Celebrity, Social Media
Ella Scott
Featured Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
Topics: Music, Entertainment, Celebrity, Social Media
Benson Boone’s American Heart World Tour is going viral for all the wrong reasons - with critics joking it will foster a deep ‘personal connection’ with fans.
23-year-old Boone kicked off his first all-arena tour at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Friday (August 22), before heading to Chicago's United Center on Saturday (August 23).
Thousands of fans have already experienced the Grammy Award-nominated artist’s signature backflips and live renditions of stellar pop hits ‘Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else’, and ‘Mystical Magical’, among other shenanigans.
But rather than praising the musician’s presence and effective energy, it’s his NSFW stage design that has the internet talking.
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Seemingly taking inspiration from the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Beyoncé and Billie Eilish, the ‘Beautiful Things’ hitmaker’s red and silver stage features a long catwalk, as seen in a picture posted to X by Buzzing Pop.
The runway merges into a second area with ‘BB’ in the centre, situated well within the arena’s standing pitch, and also cuts through a spherical rise on the opposite side.
Much like Boone’s Coachella 2025 set that Stufish Entertainment Architects built, the American Heart World Tour stage is engineered to reflect and support Boone’s energy and the athleticism he brings to his live shows.
On first glance, the pool of space at the end of the catwalk looks like a heart - but some people are convinced they’re looking at something a little more phallic.
“This was intentional to get people talking I'm sure of it,” said one X user.
A second typed: “Um. Why’s it that shaped.”
“It’s giving ballsack,” someone else commented.
A fourth user joked: “Love how intimate the setup looks it feels like every show will have that personal connection.”
Someone else wrote: “I don’t even stan but I might have too because this stage is too funny lmao.”
What do you think - was the design choice an accident or a particular choice made by Boone?
This isn’t the first time that the American Idol alumnus has made headlines with crotch-related subjects.
In February, Boone was forced to apologise after he was caught adjusting his sparkly blue jumpsuit amid his appearance at the Grammys.
Taking to Instagram, he said: "Sorry for adjusting my jumpsuit so aggressively on stage tonight that thing was extremely restricting in certain areas.”
The American Heart World Tour has stops in Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit and Canada next week, with shows also planned for Boston, Philadelphia, and a headline show at New York’s Madison Square Garden on September 5.
Following the conclusion of the North America and Canada leg in mid-October, Boone will head to the UK and Ireland before touring the likes of Amsterdam, Norway and Sweden.