Emergency services had to be used.
Stray Kids‘ Bang Chan has spoken out following the early ending of the group’s recent concert.
Stray Kids are currently on the North American leg of their dominATE world tour. So far, the group has completed concerts in seven locations, entertaining fans in stadiums across the continent.
On June 23, the Washington, D.C. date of the concert took place, but had issues that began before the show even started. For one, fans called out the venue for not getting them inside quickly enough for soundcheck and closing the doors, leaving them waiting in the heat.
HUNDREDS of us out here for VIP seated SOUNDCHECK they couldn’t get people in quick enough, closed the gates & started soundcheck despite us all being here on time & waiting in this heat
DO BETTER @NationalsPark #StrayKids_dominATE #StrayKids_DC @Stray_Kids pic.twitter.com/bU4aFF9Ab6
— lex (@excuseme_noona) June 23, 2025
Speaking of the heat, many fans throughout the day commented on how hot it was, with a documented high of 101 degrees F (around 38 degrees C). The venue, an open air stadium, had fans and the group directly in the sun during the soundcheck, with Bang Chan even exclaiming over the heat.
🇺🇸 | Bang Chan checking on STAY in the intense heat at #DominATE_DC Soundcheck today.
🐺: it’s so fucking hot, shit!
STAY, please stay hydrated and safe today 💖 #BangChan #방찬 #バンチャン #方灿pic.twitter.com/omanp0Y2i4
— BANG CHAN 방찬 GLOBAL (@BangChanGlobal) June 23, 2025
The concerns over the heat only increased as the show started, with the group pausing the show to check on fans more than once. Fans also commented on the group looking more exhausted than usual, accounting it to the heat.
lee know passing out some of their own waters and skz having to pause the show for a second to grab us some and get it figured out 😭 #dominate_dc pic.twitter.com/7FdVGuVRLQ
— andi 🫧 (@2rachas) June 24, 2025
Eventually, the show was ended early after concerns grew too large, and the heat did not improve even after the sun went down.
Many fans have discussed the handling of the situation by the venue’s staff, including the policies on water. The venue required fans to throw away bottles of water, only to sell bottles for high prices, and not give out any water until the group spoke up. Fans criticized both the venue and the concert’s promoter, Live Nation, for not taking steps to keep fans safe.
so this stadium didn’t let hundreds of stays with vip get into soundcheck, forced stays to throw out their water bottles before entering the venue, then forced stays to pay 8 dollars per water, then didn’t give water for free until skz themselves stopped the concert and asked…
— mina (@skzview) June 24, 2025
felix threw SKZ’S water for stays where is live nation ??????? why is an artist doing their job ????? https://t.co/j8lO1nX3TK pic.twitter.com/QHWupk1q11
— 린 𖤐 🥝🍓 (@bbokseungah) June 24, 2025
skz stepping off stage for a couple minutes so things can settle down and people can get water/first aid #dominATE_DC #dominATE_Washington pic.twitter.com/VG2gTOo7qw
— mar // dominate washington dc (@memorixs) June 24, 2025
my experience at dominate dc:
a lengthy thread🧵(skz concert thread, tw: heat-related illness, neglect, & overall sucky shit)#dominATE_WashingtonDC #dominATE_DC #dominATE_Washington pic.twitter.com/2QpIBboooU
— kuna | misses skz (@staymyrose) June 24, 2025
After the concert, Bang Chan took to Bubble to send a message to fans, seemingly calling out the venue for not having water readily available, a common practice.
Stray Kids have two remaining cities on this tour, and it is important for those attending to take precautions with the high temperatures.
