What should have been a celebratory and emotional evening for Miley Cyrus turned unexpectedly chaotic during the premiere of her new visual album Something Beautiful at the 2025 Tribeca Festival in New York City. While most fans showed up at the Beacon Theatre eager to see the pop icon unveil one of the most personal and artistic projects of her career, a handful of attendees left confused, frustrated — and in some cases, openly hostile.
The problem? Ticket resellers had advertised the event as a Miley Cyrus concert, misleading some buyers into thinking they were purchasing seats for a live performance, not a film screening and artist Q&A. As a result, several disappointed attendees — some of whom paid hundreds or even thousands of dollars on platforms like StubHub and VividSeats — disrupted the event by heckling Cyrus from the audience.
“We Thought This Was a Concert”
Just minutes into the event, awkward moments began to unfold as fans called out to Cyrus during the Q&A session following the screening. One frustrated attendee reportedly shouted, “We thought this was a concert, we paid $800!” Another yelled, “Are you actually going to sing?”
Cyrus, maintaining her composure, continued the conversation about her project, while others in the room expressed their disapproval of the hecklers. Many fans later took to social media to defend Miley, calling the behavior disrespectful and rude — especially during an intimate discussion about a film so close to her heart.
The interruptions, though isolated, point to a broader issue that has plagued the ticketing industry for years: the confusing and sometimes deceptive marketing tactics of third-party ticket resale platforms.
Resellers Advertised a Fake “Tour”
According to multiple reports and firsthand accounts shared with The Hollywood Reporter, the confusion stemmed from misleading listings on sites like StubHub and VividSeats. One screenshot shared by a fan on social media even advertised the event as part of a fictitious “2025 Endless Summer Vacation Tour.” For the record, Miley Cyrus has not toured in over a decade, and no such tour exists.
The event had been clearly promoted by Tribeca and Cyrus’ official team as a film premiere — not a concert. However, some fans who purchased their tickets through resale platforms said the listings were vague or outright deceptive. Unfortunately, because these platforms are not directly affiliated with the artist, the venue, or the festival, buyers are often left in the dark about what they’re truly purchasing.
Fans Paid Big — and Felt Burned
Among the upset attendees was Kate Fiore, a 27-year-old from New York, who told THR that she and her younger sister flew in from Houston and spent $1,700 total for tickets on VividSeats. She claimed that the ad she saw made it appear like a once-in-a-lifetime concert event.
“Had I seen anywhere from that VividSeats ad that this was linked to the Tribeca Film Festival, I would’ve maybe looked into it more,” she said. “What it said was something like ‘2025 tour date one night only,’ and we weren’t the only ones.” Fiore added that many attendees around her had similar stories and some even left the venue early in disappointment.
Another attendee, identified only as Tim, shared a similar experience. He had spent $1,200 for two tickets, assuming he was taking his sister to a live performance. “As soon as we turned the corner and saw the marquee said ‘Tribeca Film Festival,’ I said, ‘Wait… is this a movie?’” Tim recalled. “I’d pay $600 to see Miley sing, not for a visual album screening.”
Despite their frustration, both Tim and Fiore said they didn’t blame Miley Cyrus or the festival. “I’m sure Miley had no idea what was going on,” Fiore said. “She was there to deliver something she clearly put a lot of heart into. It’s just unfortunate.”
A Larger Problem With Ticket Resale Platforms
The confusion underscores long-standing complaints about the secondary ticket market, where non-transferable tickets are often marked up dramatically and can include misleading or outright false descriptions.
Kevin Erickson, executive director of the Future of Music Coalition, told THR that when buyers rely on resellers not involved with the actual event, key details can get lost, and fans are left vulnerable.
“When fans are acquiring tickets from people who had nothing to do with the event, the ability to communicate the important details of the event is potentially lost,” Erickson said. He added that in New York, where non-transferable ticketing is restricted, it’s especially difficult for event organizers to prevent this kind of misrepresentation.
A Night of Mixed Emotions
Though the drama made headlines, the majority of the night was filled with love and admiration. Something Beautiful — a performance-heavy visual album — was well-received by most attendees, with standing ovations and enthusiastic cheers echoing through the venue. Many fans shouted “We love you!” as Miley walked in, and the crowd reacted warmly to the film’s themes of healing, self-expression, and vulnerability.
Still, as Cyrus continues to evolve artistically and push boundaries in how she shares her work, this incident highlights the urgent need for better regulation and transparency in the ticket resale industry.
Fans deserve clarity, artists deserve respect, and no one — not even a global superstar — should have to fend off hecklers during a film premiere for art they’ve poured their soul into.