Posted by Andrew Unterberger on 05/31/2011 at 2:55 PM News

The Popdust Files: avril lavigne, baseball, Controversy

Though the Tampa Bay Rays have proven themselves one of the model baseball organizations when it comes to the scouting and drafting of big-league prospects, allowing themselves to make the playoffs twice in the past three seasons with one of the league’s lowest payrolls, apparently they don’t display the same kind of discerning eye when selecting musicians for in-stadium performances. Ontarian pop brat Avril Lavigne, self-proclaimed “crazy bitch,” clearly has no love for family-friendly environments, and during a post-game gig at the Rays’ Tropicana Field over the weekend, went on a “swearing tirade,” upsetting (and reflecting poorly upon) Tampa brass in the process.

The problems began when Avril experienced mic problems during her performance of Goodbye Lullaby lead single “What the Hell,” which reportedly led to some boos from the audience. Lavigne frustratedly explained that the sound problem “fucking happens on a baseball field,” which of course led to further booing from the crowd. (The 7-3 loss the Rays had suffered minutes before may have contributed to general audience unrest.) Later, Rays spokesperson Rick Vaughn issued a statement of apology, promising that “the Rays demand profanity-free performances from all of our concert performers and we are extremely disappointed by the language used in [Avril Lavigne's] show. It is not consistent with the family-friendly atmosphere that Tropicana Field is known for.”

Well, in that case, Rick, you should have done a little bit of homework and ended up recruiting Michelle Branch or Vanessa Carlton for the concert instead. As she has warned us so many times herself, there’s just no keeping this Ontarian divorcée from doing what she wants when she feels like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxMUfjGiGWA&feature=player_embedded