Miley Cyrus’ Film Premiere at Tribeca
Miley Cyrus’ film premiere in Tribeca on Friday evening was a solemn event where the superstar interacted with her fans in a loving manner as she unveiled one of her most ambitious projects in her two-decade career.
Confusion Among Fans
However, the evening was not without its hiccups. A few rude outbursts from fans who seemed to be unaware of the event they had bought tickets for marred the evening. The fans had expected a concert, but the event was a film screening. "We thought this was a concert, we paid $800," a fan screamed. Another fan shouted, "Will you actually sing?"
Disrespectful Behavior
To be clear, starting an argument with an artist in the middle of a film premiere is unjustified, and those who interrupted the discussion should learn better etiquette. Miley’s fans have come to her defense since the event, describing the behavior as disrespectful.
The Root of the Problem
Underneath this unpleasant exchange, the event also offers a window into how confusing the ticket industry can often be for the unsuspecting fan. According to several disappointed attendees, the problem seems to stem from third-party resale providers that are not affiliated with Cyrus, the Beacon Theater, or Tribeca.
Misleading Advertising
After the premiere, several fans took to social media, saying they saw advertisements from resale platforms like Stubhub and Vivid Seats that suggested Cyrus would be performing. One fan posted a screenshot from a Vivid Seats link with the caption "Miley Cyrus & 2025 Endless Summer Vacation Tour." It is unclear how many fans were unaware of the type of event they were attending.
Clear Marketing
Cyrus and Tribeca consistently marketed the premiere as a film event, not a performance or concert. There were almost no empty seats in the packed venue, and fans reacted enthusiastically to Cyrus and the film, cheering when she took her seat in the audience and during several points in the visual album.
Fan Reactions
Despite the noticeable interruption, the audience seemed to listen to what Cyrus had to say, with a handful of "I love you"s from the crowd. However, at least one somewhat irritated audience member asked the venue staff and nearby festival attendees if they knew that Cyrus would not be singing. Some others have since posted complaints online.
Ticketing Issues
Reps for Stubhub and VividSeats did not respond to requests for comment. Festival reps did not respond to a request for comment, and Cyrus’ rep could not be reached. The venues have long been frustrated with ticket resale platforms, as they are not directly involved in planning the event, which can lead to misunderstandings with customers.
Fan Experiences
Kate Fiore, a 27-year-old New York resident, told us that her younger sister from Houston had flown in to attend the event and spent $1,700 for her tickets on Vivid Seats. Fiore said she bought the tickets in April after seeing a Vivid Seats ad on Instagram that suggested it was a concert. "I had seen from this Vivid Seats somewhere that this was listed as a Tribeca Film Festival event, I might have checked, but what it said was something like ‘2025 Tour Date One Night,’ and we weren’t the only ones," says Fiore.
Miscommunication
Fiore says they found out what the event actually was when they arrived at the Beacon on Friday evening, and that several attendees also had similar experiences and told them they spent $700 or $900 for their seats and thought it was a concert. She said several attendees around her left early in frustration. "Nobody would have spent that much money if we knew it wasn’t a concert. She doesn’t tour, she doesn’t play live often."
Industry Issues
Kevin Erickson, the executive director of the Future of Music Coalition, a non-profit music policy organization that focuses on live music business reforms, among other things, says that part of the problem is that New York state does not allow transferred tickets, which limits the ability of the festival to prevent resellers from misleading fans in large markets.
Need for Clarity
Erickson notes that consumers should be able to purchase tickets without taking on undue risk. "When fans acquire tickets from people who had nothing to do with the event, the ability to communicate important details about the event may be lost," he says. As Erickson points out, "You should be able to put on a film at a film festival without third parties trying to extract all this additional profit."
Fan Disappointment
Another attendee, a New York-based resident named Tim, told us that he spent $1,200 for two tickets to bring his sister to the event after seeing a Vivid Seats Instagram ad that strongly suggested Cyrus would be performing. "The copy in their ad said something to the effect of ‘One Night Only’ and definitely implied a concert," says Tim, adding that many of the attendees around him also expected a concert.
False Advertising
Tim called the advertisement that prompted him to buy his tickets "false advertising." Fiore added that "almost unanimously from at least all of us on the balcony that were expecting some kind of performance." Neither Tim nor Fiore blamed Cyrus or Tribeca for the issue. "I’m sure Miley also had no idea what was going on, and she was there to deliver something that she put a lot of heart and soul into," says Fiore. "It’s unfortunate that was the ultimate outcome."
