Benson Boone has offered an intriguing explanation for his unexpected appearance in Wollongong this week, revealing that a “very good friend” was behind the visit, before a knowing glance towards the camera left one obvious question unanswered: who?
The 24-year-old American singer was asked about his South Coast detour during an interview with Matt “Shirvo” Shirvington, after being spotted in Wollongong earlier this week.
“Why are you in Wollongong? Who is here that you needed to see?” Shirvo asked.
“A very good friend of mine,” Boone replied.
He then looked knowingly towards the camera, but offered no name and no further explanation.
For now, the identity of that “very good friend” remains a mystery.
The exchange adds a new layer to a visit that had already attracted attention after Boone was photographed at Levendi Fish & Chippery at Wollongong Harbour.
Fan account Benson Boone Nation, which has more than 937,000 Instagram followers, shared images of Boone at the Belmore Basin kiosk carrying several brown paper takeaway bags, captioning the post: “Benson at @levendikiosk in Wollongong yesterday!”
Levendi is a family-owned Wollongong fixture that has operated at the harbour since 2006 and is particularly known for its fish and chips.
Exactly what Boone ordered was not confirmed, despite the distinctly takeaway-shaped evidence in his hands.
At the time, there was no obvious explanation for why one of contemporary pop’s biggest young names had turned up at a kiosk on the Wollongong waterfront. His interview with Shirvo now answers part of the question, while creating another.
Boone did not identify the friend, and there is no reliable basis to speculate about who he meant or the nature of their relationship beyond his own description.
What is clear is that the Wollongong visit appears to have been personal.
The timing is also notable because Boone is in Australia well ahead of his scheduled local concert dates.
His Wanted Man Tour is due to reach Australia in November for nine arena shows across Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, beginning in Brisbane on 6 November before three Sydney performances at Afterpay Arena from 17 to 19 November.
Australian singer Ruel will join him as special guest across the Australian dates.
Boone’s profile has risen sharply since “Beautiful Things” became his international breakthrough, pushing him from emerging singer-songwriter to arena-scale touring artist.
That makes the Wollongong sighting all the more striking in its ordinariness.
There is no stage, red carpet or carefully managed arrival in the photographs from Levendi. Just Boone, dressed casually, carrying takeaway from a local harbourside kiosk.
Now, at least, there is an explanation for why he was there.
Just not who he was there to see.
Read also: Benson Boone Spotted at Wollongong’s Levendi Fish & Chippery