Kevin Parker, the singer and songwriter behind Tame Impala, is changing how he interacts with fans. He made this decision after an autograph situation reportedly went too far. While touring the US, Parker says he will no longer sign items or take photos outside hotels, airports or venues.
As a reason, he said he learned about tactics he found especially troubling.
Kevin Parker stops signing autographs after collectors allegedly started using children
Parker shared the decision on his Instagram stories. He explained that his security team had advised him to stop meeting people waiting outside hotels, airports and concert venues.
The Instagram story that was later shared on Reddit, reads, “Hey guys quick PSA to say due to the rise of aggressive autograph hounds I won’t be signing anything or doing photos out the front of hotels or at airports at all anymore, so if you happen to catch me please don’t be offended if I say no.”
What appears to have changed his mind was the involvement of children.
“I wasn’t that passionate about it before but they’ve started using kids which I think is all kinds of wrong. Love you guys x.”
Parker then shared a Reddit post explaining how professional autograph collectors allegedly operate. The post described networks involving hotel and airport staff, car service drivers and catering workers who can provide information about celebrities’ locations and movements.
“While it may look like casual fan behaviour to a passer-by, the reality outside (of) team and celebrity hotels is a high-stakes ecosystem driven by profit, network intelligence an (sic) complex legal boundaries,” the post stated.
For Parker, the situation has now reached a point where even genuine fans may have to wait.
The Tame Impala singer said he also won’t be able to meet and greet fans waiting outside venues after shows “for the time being.”
Parker is currently on tour in the US and is set to bring his Deadbeat tour back home in October. According to the report, his new autograph policy is meant to address the growing security concerns surrounding these encounters. And he makes it clear that fans shouldn’t take his decision personally.
