Katy Perry Gives Fans a Fright with Mid-Air Malfunction During San Francisco Show

San Francisco, CA — Pop superstar Katy Perry shocked fans during her Lifetimes tour performance at the Chase Center when a mechanical malfunction nearly sent her plummeting mid-air during her iconic hit Roar. The 40-year-old singer was dramatically lifted into the air on a mechanical butterfly — but what began as a magical spectacle quickly turned into a nerve-wracking moment.

Midway through the song, the stage prop suddenly jerked and dipped, leaving Perry visibly startled and clutching the apparatus tightly. The performance paused briefly as the singer glanced upward in confusion, but she quickly regained composure and finished the set, earning admiration from fans for her resilience.

Fans and crew were relieved to see the incident end without injury. Katy, ever the entertainer, took to Instagram the following day to laugh off the scare. Posting a carousel of images, she wrote, “How the LA show started… how the LA show ended,” humorously contrasting a serene bathtub photo with footage of her post-show in a robe, visibly shaken but safe.

On her Instagram Stories, she added the caption, “Goodnight San Francisco,” with the video of the mishap — fully embracing the moment.

Fans flooded social media with reactions, many drawing parallels to Beyoncé’s recent technical mishap during her Cowboy Carter tour. One user joked, “First Beyoncé, now Katy Perry – Usher better watch out.” Another praised Perry’s stage presence: “The way Katy held it together is insane. That could’ve ended badly. She’s a real pro.”

The glitch occurred just days after Perry got emotional in Los Angeles, hinting at her breakup with actor Orlando Bloom while singing Not Like the Movies. “You’re gonna make me sing this song in this time in my life? OK, we’ll do it!” she told the crowd.

Despite the scare, Perry’s tour continues, with fans more excited than ever — and maybe a little more watchful of the flying stage effects.