Savage’s Soundsplash performance sparks concerns over young girls on stage

Kiwi rapper Savage.

• A festivalgoer was disturbed when Savage invited young girls on stage during a raunchy song.
• Soundsplash organisers said the incident doesn’t align with the festival’s values and that anyone who had a complaint could contact them.
• Police are investigating a reported sexual assault at the festival, with inquiries in early stages.

An attendee of a music festival popular with schoolchildren was disgusted when hip-hop artist Savage invited a group of girls, who appeared very young, on stage during a raunchy song.

The adult festivalgoer, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Herald other adults in the crowd around her were silent and appeared uncomfortable with the situation.

“They danced while he sang very inappropriate lyrics such as, ‘uh oh, lean back, girl you got some mean racks. You got a mean arse and I really mean that’,” she said.

“Throughout the other songs, everyone was yelling the lyrics out as he sang, but when he got the girls up and they were all up on stage dancing, everyone around me went quite quiet and it felt really awkward,” she said.

She said she spoke to some of the girls who had been pulled up, and said they saw no issue with the situation.

“Then they’re dancing and he’s singing the song, which was, I felt, really inappropriate.”

The Herald has approached Savage for comment.

Soundsplash organisers said they had not received any formal complaints about Savage’s performance at this year’s festival.

“However the description as relayed via NZ Herald from a parent of an attendee doesn’t align with the festival’s values,” a spokesperson said.

They said the person can contact the company to lodge a complaint or talk about their experience.

“Artists performing at Soundsplash sign and are expected to adhere to a Code of Conduct Agreement as part of their participation in the festival,” the spokesperson said.

The code contains expectations about how artists should engage in respectful and safe behaviour, they said.

Soundsplash, held at the Waikato town of Raglan, is one of the few festivals for under-18s. The festival spans three days and nearly 10,000 people have attended past events.

The concerns about possibly underage girls being on stage during a raunchy song come after police launched an investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the festival.

The festival was held last weekend, with police cordoning off a tent in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Another festivalgoer told the Herald that on waking up he noticed unmarked cars and detectives around a taped-off tent.

He believed it was a serious situation and messaged others to stay away and give police space.

A police spokesperson said they were investigating a reported sexual assault at an event on Ngarunui Beach Rd in Raglan.

“Police were alerted about 3am on January 19, and a scene guard was put in place.

“Inquiries are in their early stages and the victim is being provided with support.

“While the investigation is ongoing, we are unable to provide further information at this time.”

A spokesman for Soundsplash said they would not comment while the police investigation was ongoing.

“Any reports of criminal behaviour on-site at Soundsplash are handed over to police – in line with Soundsplash’s wellbeing policy and robust event security procedures - and the event team makes all efforts to assist police with their inquiries.

“Soundsplash’s terms and conditions of entry - including details of behaviours prohibited on-site - are outlined on the official event website.”

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.