Carly Pearce revealed that Lainey Wilson and Kelsea Ballerini reached out to her after a concert heckler incident, expressing their support. Pearce commented, “They’ve got my back,” highlighting the solidarity among her fellow artists.
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Carly Pearce previously told PEOPLE, “We deserve to be able to stand up for ourselves,” reflecting on the incident at We Fest on August 2.
On August 14, Carly Pearce discussed her experience with the heckler incident from We Fest during an appearance on The Viall Files podcast with Nick Viall. Pearce, 34, reflected on the mixed reactions she received, saying, “So many people have said it’s awesome that you stood up for yourself,” while acknowledging criticism from others. She added, “I understand but haven’t you been a human and blown up at any point in your life?” Pearce also noted that other female country artists expressed their appreciation for her stance, saying, “Thank you for showing we are just like anybody else. We shouldn’t be held to this standard that we can’t call somebody out.”
When asked about who reached out to her, Carly Pearce revealed that Kelsea Ballerini, 30, and Lainey Wilson, 32, both texted her within five minutes of each other. Pearce said, “That’s how I knew it got viral. I was like, ‘Uh oh. This isn’t good.’ But they were so supportive, and it was girls aligned in that moment. I think it’s great.” She emphasized the significance of their support, noting, “The females in country music, there’s so few of us. When you have that kind of support from people that you love and are genuinely building you up, they understand it on a level that my girlfriend isn’t going to understand.” Pearce concluded, “I’m glad to know they’ve got my back too.”
When Carly Pearce discussed the incident with PEOPLE earlier this month, she stated that people should be “reprimanded for their actions.” She emphasized, “You can’t be mean to people and expect people to tolerate it. Especially as women, we’re conditioned to kind of just take it, and I want that stigma to go away because we deserve to be able to stand up for ourselves.” Pearce added, “People need to be nicer. I hope that people are nicer and maybe think a little before they speak.”
At the festival, Carly Pearce paused her set to address an attendee who was being “mean” and showing her “disrespect.” In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by local radio host Ian Godfrey, Pearce is heard telling the man, “Somebody get him out of here. I do not want him at my show.” She added, “If you’re gonna be an assh—, then you’re gonna have to say it to me and get the f— out of my show. I do not have time for dicks. See ya later.” It was not clear what specifically the man said, but Godfrey later noted that the man had yelled “no one cares” when Pearce began speaking to the crowd.