Pop sensation Katy Perry had a close shave during her Lifetimes Tour performance in San Francisco, when a mechanical malfunction caused a giant butterfly prop she was riding to suddenly drop several feet while suspended over the crowd. The video of the incident is grabbing eyeballs on social media.
The incident unfolded during her performance of Roar. The viral video shows Perry singing atop the large, winged structure when it unexpectedly tilts forward, sending her slipping from her seat mid-song. The singer momentarily stopped performing as fans below gasped in shock.
However, the prop stabilised just in time, preventing a serious accident. Perry then quickly raised her hand to signal she was okay before resuming her performance.
Watch the video here:
Katy Perry’s tour prop malfunctions midair. pic.twitter.com/Fu8bPYhfWy
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 19, 2025
The video quickly gained traction, triggering a conversation around safety of celebrities on stage. “On the upside the taped song kept on going. Next up they’ll replace these “idols” with robots. It’ll be cheaper, more consistent, and no problems with drugs and alcohol use,” a user wrote. “I’m sorry that’s actually so scary, when will artists learn to not use these types of props,” another user commented.
“For someone who blasted off into space I feel that drop was miniscule in comparison,” a third user reacted.
Later, Perry addressed the moment on her Instagram Stories, posting a blurry close-up of her expression, captioned, “Good Night San Fran.”
This isn’t the first time a high-profile stage prop has caused alarm. Last month, Beyoncé experienced a technical glitch during her Cowboy Carter tour stop in Houston. During her performance of 16 Carriages at NRG Stadium, a flying car prop began to tilt dangerously mid-air, sparking concern among fans.
Beyoncé was safely lowered to the stage. She later reassured the crowd with a smile, saying,
“If I ever fall I know y’all would catch me.”