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Fan Facing Backlash After One Direction Member Hit In Head At Philly Concert

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It happens all the time.

A fan at a concert throws something at a performer on stage.

It happened at Tuesday night's One Direction concert at Lincoln Financial Field.

But the power of social media means that fan is facing quite a backlash.

It's not quite the video seen around the world, unless you're on social media.

During Tuesday night's One Direction concert in Philadelphia, a fan allegedly threw what appears to be a can at singer Harry Styles.

And after it smashes into his head, she seems to laugh about it.

As is often the case, the internet found out who that fan is and then that video and comments about that person went viral.

"I think nowadays we're seeing more and more people getting an amplified backlash when things happen in real life on social media because it is such a global medium," said social media expert Annie Heckenberger.

Heckenberger watched that video and read many of the comments, including some calling the fan disgusting and ugly.

Others even threatening her.

The fan changed her profile picture and tweeted she was worried. "I'm scared people will actually find me and hurt me," one post read.

"I would absolutely take my accounts off line and I would hope that if that happened to any minor that their friends and family and parents and any authority figure in their life would help guide them offline in that way," said Heckenberger.

And though that's the best advice Heckenberger has for people who seem to accidently find themselves in a negative social media spotlight, this can throwing fan is staying online, even apologizing to Harry Styles himself.

"She was very apologetic which really is the right approach to take. She probably owes him an apology, not necessarily the entire world so now that that's done, maybe she can call it a day," said Heckenberger.

It does not appear the fan intentionally meant to hit Styles with that can, but the lesson here is to avoid social media if you end up being the target of bullying. Threatening messages on Twitter can also be reported. There's a message under every message you can click to report it if it's threatening or inappropriate.

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