Singer Patti LaBelle rushes off stage during concert in Milwaukee because of bomb threat

Legendary singer Patti LaBelle abruptly left the stage while performing a few songs at her Christmas concert in Milwaukee after a bomb threat forced authorities to evacuate the theater.

The Milwaukee Sentinel Magazine reported that video from the Riverside Theater on Saturday night appeared to show two security guards interrupting the 78-year-old man as she chatted to an audience member about their 70th birthday.

“Wait,” LaBelle exclaimed as she was quickly escorted off the stage by two bodyguards.

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Soon after, it was announced that the nearly 2,500-seat theater had to be evacuated because of a bomb threat.

Catherine Brunson, who documented the evacuation in Facebook Livetold the newspaper that the evacuation happened when two songs were in LaBelle’s concert at about 9:24 pm.

“We showed up and the police blocked the block. … A lot of people were pretty upset. … It was scary,” Brunson said.

Scott Pierce, who also attended the concert, said people had calmly left the theater, but “it’s sad that someone does this”.

Milwaukee Police Captain Warren Allen Jr. said in a statement Sunday that K9 units searched the theater and found no explosive devices, so there was no threat to the public.

Allen Jr. “Police are clearing the premises at this time. The investigation is going smoothly.”

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In an additional statement released at 1:13 a.m. Sunday, Allen wrote: “The building was searched by K9 units. No explosive devices were detected. No threat to public at this time.”

LaBelle has yet to issue an evacuation statement on social media. Riverside theater operator Pabst Theater Group said it will work with LaBelle to reschedule future shows.

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