Katy Perry’s The Lifetimes Tour hit a terrifying snag on Friday night when her butterfly-shaped flying prop experienced a sudden and visibly dangerous malfunction mid-performance at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Perry was in the middle of belting out her 2013 mega-hit “Roar” when the mechanical butterfly lift she was riding jerked, stalled, and dipped erratically in front of a sold-out arena sending the crowd into a collective gasp and social media into a frenzy.
Check out the video below.
@sole.sunny Omg!!! Casi se nos va Katy, que susto tan horrible mano 🥺 #katyperry #lifetimetour #sanfrancisco #concerts #roar
♬ sonido original – Sole 🔅
While the exact technical cause has not yet been confirmed, fan-captured footage shows Perry suspended high above the stage as the butterfly prop falters, swaying with increasing instability. At one point, the rig appears to seize before violently jolting forward prompting gasps from audience members and widespread concern online.
Security and tech crew could be seen hustling backstage as the pop superstar clung tightly to the structure, visibly bracing herself as it attempted to complete its descent.
Despite the heart-stopping moment, Perry proved herself once again to be one of pop’s most seasoned and resilient performers. She not only survived the malfunction without injury she kept singing. Without missing a note, the Grammy-nominated icon finished “Roar” to thunderous applause.
Social Media Reacts: “Get This Lady OFF”
As clips of the moment began circulating late Thursday night, fans and critics alike took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice both their terror and frustration with the increasing reliance on elaborate aerial stunts in modern touring.
“Everybody just need to stay on the stage atp,” one person wrote bluntly.
“Beyoncé’s car was strike one, Katy Perry’s butterfly(?) is strike 2, whoever has another one of these flying contraptions gonna have their concertgoers feel the wrath of God’s strike 3,” another tweeted, referencing Beyoncé’s May malfunction with her flying chrome vehicle during the Renaissance World Tour.
“Ok all singers need to stop doing flying things in their concert,” posted another fan.
The incident reignited an online debate over the safety of aerial theatrics in live concerts.
“Oh hell nah this is scary af. Get this lady OFF,” one user wrote.
“Seriously what’s with the obsession of artists with wired/cabled production during their tours?? Literally so scary and risky especially if the tour is moving,” added another.
Despite the drama, Perry never lost her composure. She smiled, waved, and returned to the stage as if nothing had happened a true Diamond-certified diva who has seen and survived it all. Her team has not yet issued an official statement about the mechanical failure or whether the butterfly will continue to appear at future stops.
We reached out to Perry’s representatives regarding the safety protocols for the butterfly prop and whether changes will be made for future shows. As of this writing, no response has been received.
Tour Continues Full Speed Ahead
The San Francisco scare hasn’t shaken the pop queen’s momentum. Perry’s Lifetimes Tour, which marks her first full-scale world tour since Witness: The Tour in 2017–18, continues across North America with high demand and rave reviews. Her next stop is Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on July 21.
Here’s where Katy Perry is headed next:
- July 21 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
- August 3 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
- August 6 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena (newly announced show)
- August 8 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
- August 9 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
- August 11 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
- August 14 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
- August 15 — Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
- August 17 — Raleigh, NC @ Lenovo Center
- August 19 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
- August 20 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
- August 22 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
- August 23 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
