The family of a 12-year-old South Dakota girl has reached a settlement with an iconic rock band after they blocked her from singing on stage with them because she uses a wheelchair.
Foreigner, a classic rock band, performed on stage at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in August 2024 alongside students from the Sioux Falls Children’s Choir.
Halle Bauman was a part of the choir, but she was denied access before she even got to the venue because accommodations were not made to allow her on stage.
Although the show was hosted at the PREMIER Center, the band, known for their hit song, ‘I Want to Know What Love Is,’ and tour managers are responsible for the set and getting the necessary equipment in order.
Now, nearly two years after the incident, the United States Department of Justice reached a settlement agreement with Counter Productions Inc. over allegations that the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Counter Productions Inc. agreed to pay the Bauman family $23,500 and has also been directed to adopt new ADA compliance measures and employee training.
In his announcement on Friday, United States Attorney Ron Parsons said the band was not aware of the situation and was not responsible for it.
The release also stated that PREMIER Center offered alternatives to the production company to make the stage more accessible for Halle.
Halle Bauman was blocked from performing on stage with her choir group in August 2024 during a Foreigner concert in South Dakota
The classic rock band had invited the Sioux Falls Children’s Choir on stage that day, but their production team was not equipped to have her wheelchair on stage, despite ample warning about it. (Pictured: Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hansen performing)
At the time, Schuiteman told KELO-TV that the production team listed off several excuses as to why they could not allow the disabled child on stage.
‘To my understanding, some people didn’t know that she was going to be onstage… so they were not prepared was one of the excuses, so they wouldn’t be able to, in time, get a ramp ready for the stage because they’d have to reorganize everything,’ Schuiteman said.
After the incident, Halle’s mother, Christa Bauman, who was with her when it happened, said she and her family had been to events at the PREMIER Center before without an issue.
She also said that Schuiteman had told the company months in advance about Halle’s disability.
‘Then we were told while driving on our way to the show that they had changed their minds and that Halle’s wheelchair was a hazard onstage,’ Christa told Argus Leader.
The upset mother decided to turn the car around after getting a call from Katie Kirkland of the PREMIER Center about the issue.
She said her phone was on speaker, so her daughter heard the disappointing news for herself.
‘Halle was rightfully hurt and confused and devastated,’ Christa recalled.
Halle heard she was not allowed to perform with the band while he mom was on speaker with a PREMIER Center employee
Shortly after the ordeal, Foreigner’s bassist, Jeff Pilson (third from right), took to Facebook to express the band’s ‘sincerest apologies’
She said the band’s team told her that because of the use of pyrotechnics on stage, they did not see it as a safe space for Halle.
‘When the band is dealing with a big production, I understand there are legalities,’ she said.
‘But you also are creative and can figure out a solution if you wanted to. They were lazy and didn’t want to deal with it.’
Shortly after the ordeal, Foreigner’s bassist, Jeff Pilson, took to Facebook to express the band’s ‘sincerest apologies.’
Pilson added: ‘We’re deeply disappointed in the mistake made by our team and understand the impact it had on this talented young fan.
‘We believe music should be inclusive for all and are taking steps to ensure our shows are accessible to everyone. We hope to make it up to her and her family, and we’re committed to doing better in the future.’
