Katy Perry’s Lifetimes tour has been dazzling fans across the globe, but Friday night’s stop in San Francisco brought more than just fireworks — it brought a moment of genuine danger. Midway through her high-energy performance of “Roar,” Perry was violently jolted by a malfunctioning butterfly-shaped prop that nearly flung her into the crowd below.
Fans captured the harrowing moment on video, showing Perry suspended above the audience when the massive mechanical wings suddenly jerked to one side, sending her into a brief freefall before the cables caught her again. She clung tightly to the structure, visibly shaken — but ever the professional, she regained her composure and finished the song.
Afterward, Perry paused to check the harness and steel cables securing her to the rig, then gave a reassuring thumbs-up to the stunned audience. The pop star powered through the rest of the show, proving once again why she’s one of the most resilient performers in the business.
Later that evening, Katy acknowledged the incident on her Instagram Story, sharing a freeze-frame of her shocked face with a tongue-in-cheek “Goodnight San Fran” sticker. It’s not the first time she’s encountered danger during this visually extravagant tour. Just last month in Australia, a similar prop malfunction occurred when the chrome sphere meant to lift her above the stage veered unexpectedly — forcing her to hang on for dear life.
These incidents have sparked concern among fans and even fellow performers. Last month, Beyoncé faced a near-identical scare when a suspended red car prop tilted at an unsafe angle during her Houston concert, almost ejecting her mid-song. Her production team later called it a “technical mishap.”
Perry’s butterfly rig, designed to wow audiences with an ethereal entrance from above, may now get a serious safety review. Though the tour has received rave reviews for its theatricality and innovation, this second near-accident has many wondering if it’s time to bring the stars — quite literally — back down to earth.
While Katy Perry has taken the scares in stride, fans are urging caution. “She’s fearless, but she shouldn’t have to risk her life to put on a great show,” one concertgoer told TMZ.
With the Lifetimes tour continuing across North America, one thing’s certain: Katy Perry may have wings — but safety should still come first.
