Avril Lavigne shocked as topless fan crashes Juno Awards broadcast

EDMONTON — Avril Lavigne shooed a topless fan off the Juno Awards stage in Edmonton shortly after the show got underway.

EDMONTON — Avril Lavigne shooed a topless fan off the Juno Awards stage in Edmonton shortly after the show got underway.

The pop-punk princess appeared blindsided when someone from the audience leapt on the stage during her introduction of AP Dhillon and stuck around in the background for nearly 30 seconds.

Once Lavigne noticed the fan, she swore at her and told her to get off the stage before security escorted away the person.

It was a surprise moment in a typically tame broadcast, hosted again this year by actor Simu Liu.

Early winners included Jessie Reyez who picked up contemporary R&B recording of the year for “Yessie” as her tearful father looked on.

“Flowers Need Rain” singer Preston Pablo won breakthrough artist of the year.

Before the Junos were crashed, the broadcast followed some familiar beats when Liu showed off his vocal chops several times, first with a cover of Nickelback’s “Photograph” with some help from guitarist Ryan Peake. 

Then he sang two Lavigne songs for good measure as the amused pop princess recorded the performance from the audience. 

Last year, Liu performed a parody of Lavigne’s “Complicated” when he hosted the Junos for the first time.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2023.

David Friend, The Canadian Press