Jon Bon Jovi helped a distressed woman to safety while filming on a Nashville bridge this week, and his actions have since been praised by local authorities.
The rocker had been shooting a music video for his single "The People’s House" on the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in downtown Nashville on Tuesday when he and his team noticed a woman who was standing over the ledge of the bridge with her arms wrapped around a railing. In video posted to social media by the Metro Nashville Police Department, which has since been removed by YouTube, Bon Jovi and a production assistant could be seen walking along the bridge and approaching the woman.
According to The Tennessean, the pair greeted the woman, who was wearing a blue shirt, while the 62-year-old leaned against the railing. Initially, the production assistant spoke to the woman before Bon Jovi joined them. After briefly conversing, the woman turned toward Bon Jovi and the production assistant and they were able to help her back over the railing.
Once the woman was helped to safety, she and Bon Jovi were said to have faced one another. He then hugged her as the group dispersed.
Nashville Police Chief John Drake thanked the Grammy Award-winning musician in the social media post.
"A shout out to Jon Bon Jovi and his team for helping a woman on the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge Tuesday night," the post read. "Bon Jovi helped persuade her to come off the ledge over the Cumberland River to safety. "It takes all of us to help keep each other safe."
A shout out to @jonbonjovi & his team for helping a woman on the Seigenthaler Ped Bridge Tue night. Bon Jovi helped persuade her to come off the ledge over the Cumberland River to safety. "It takes all of us to help keep each other safe,"--Chief John Drake https://t.co/1YejKJ2WgM
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) September 11, 2024
The pedestrian bridge, which spans the Cumberland River between downtown Nashville and Nissan Stadium, remained open to the public during the shoot.
Bon Jovi has since declined to speak to the media about the incident out of respect to the woman, who has not been identified as she is a private citizen who was experiencing a moment of crisis.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).