In the main body of the article it refers to “wrapped tampons” being thrown into the audience. The headline, in contrast, refers to them as “bloodied”.
Having re-read it a couple of times, it seems to read as: the performer wiped a red substance on their hands, then wiped their hands on the front of their trousers staining them red, and then reached into a bag of wrapped tampons and threw the wrapped tampons into the audience.
So the wrapped tampons were stained with whatever the red substance on the performer’s hands was.
One would hope it was fake blood, not actual blood. If it was actual blood then that’s a significant biohazard / infection control risk and should never have happened. A responsible and professional event should have a H&S assessment / risk assessment for each of the activities being put on.
The performer (who looks to me to be female) seems to have been intent on making an edgy, political, performance art point about menstruation. Whether 2pm in the afternoon at an event which hasn’t put in place a minimum age restriction for the audience is the appropriate time and place for that is debatable. Most people would say it’s not appropriate and there should have been a minimum age restriction on the audience. There was the verbal announcement of the content warning at the start but, it’s clear that wasn’t sufficient on its own.
The organiser’s/host’s reaction of appearing to feel victimised rather than acknowledging some responsibility for the procedural failings / failings of basic common sense and professionalism suggests they don’t have the experience necessary to put on events of this nature outside the confines of an age restricted venue such as a cabaret club or gay bar.