Mario is setting the record straight after a viral moment from his recent performance at the Big Fresno Fair sparked debate across social media. The R&B singer took to Instagram on Tuesday (Oct. 14) to explain why he demanded a cameraman “get the f*ck off the stage” during his Oct. 12 set, saying the situation was a misunderstanding — not a meltdown.

“People are misinformed about the Fresno situation,” the Baltimore native began in a series of Instagram Story posts. According to Mario, he arrived at the venue just ten minutes before showtime and had no idea a videographer had been cleared to shoot his set. When he noticed the cameraman moving near him on stage, it immediately disrupted his focus.

“Multiple times while seeing the cameraman through my peripheral, I got distracted and one time almost tripped over a speaker trying to make sure I’m not walking in the same direction as him,” he wrote. “He was too far down stage. A cameraman is not supposed to be that far down stage unless he’s with you and shooting you that close for a reason. It really can throw you off.”

Mario Apologizes For Big Fresno Fair Outburst

The moment came to a head when Mario, visibly frustrated, interrupted his performance to tell the cameraman to leave. The clip quickly went viral. It drew mixed reactions from fans — some calling it unprofessional, others defending his right to control his space.

In his statement, Mario admitted his emotions got the best of him. “I will take accountability for being a 0-to-100 type of person and this is why I stay out the way most of the time,” he said. “I never want one recorded incident to wipe away the work I’ve done as a person to stay out of y’all mouths and the blogs!”

The “Let Me Love You” singer also extended an olive branch to the cameraman. He apologized for the outburst and even invited him to shoot his upcoming Nothing But Us tour “the right way.”

“TO THE CAMERA MAN, YOU GOT CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE MY BOI,” Mario wrote. “IT WAS NOTHING PERSONAL.”

He closed with gratitude for his fans. He concluded, “To the fans who were triggered, I love u. To u bots (middle finger emoji).”