Avril Lavigne was interrupted by a topless environmental campaigner while on stage in Canada.
Lavigne, 38, took to the stage at the 2023 Juno Awards in Edmonton, Canada, to introduce Punjabi-Canadian rapper and singer AP Dhillon when she was joined by an unexpected guest.
The singer was reading from the teleprompter when a topless protestor appeared behind her with “Save the Greenbelt” written on her back and “Land Back” on her inner arms.
Lavigne tried to ignore her, but eventually lost her patience and said: “Get the f*** off’ the stage” to the campaigner.
She then laughed and repeated herself, saying: “Get the f*** off, b****!” as security escorted her off.
The Junos are a Canadian music awards and music festival.
Later in the evening, Lavigne returned to the stage when she won the TikTok Juno fan choice gong.
Making a quip about the earlier incident, she said: “Now nobody try anything this time or the Canadian is going to come out of me, and I’m going to f*** a bitch up."
She continued in her acceptance speech: “Last year, I celebrated the 20th anniversary of my debut album, Let Go.” She said she had “seen the industry change so much – music change, the business change, technology change; trends come and go, artists come and go – but the one thing that’s been most consistent for me is my fanbase over the past 20 years."
The pop star, known for noughties hits including Complicated and Sk8er Boi, signed her first recording contract at the age of 16 and has gone on to sell 40 million albums worldwide.
Last year, Lavigne was described as “the epitome of a rock star” who had inspired “a generation of kids” as she was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
The singer told fans to “follow your dreams, live your passion, express yourself and be real” at the ceremony in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Taking to the stage to accept the honour, she showed a picture of herself as a teenager on her first trip to Hollywood, where she had visited the Walk Of Fame wearing her favourite hoodie.
Lavigne was then handed the same hoodie, which read “skateboarding is not a crime,” which she then donned “for good luck and good vibes”.
Recalling the trip, she said: “I can remember seeing these legendary names and I never could have imagined that mine would be here, this is so crazy.
“This is probably one of the coolest days of my life.”
She continued: “Today I love making music more than ever, I feel so inspired.
“I hope that the next 16-year-old from their small town who comes to Hollywood one day full of hopes and dreams sees this star and thinks to themselves, ‘Oh my God, my name could be there one day too’ – because it can.
“Follow your dreams, live your passion, express yourself, be real, work hard, keep your head up, believe in yourself.
“Thank you so much for this honour, I am so grateful to party with you all after.
“I love you guys, this is insane. What an amazing 20 years and I can’t wait for the next 20.”
