During a recent “Lifetimes” tour concert in San Francisco, Katy Perry experienced a terrifying near-fall mid-performance, captured on video and sparking widespread concern. The “I Kissed a Girl” singer was performing her hit “Roar” while gliding above the audience on a giant butterfly prop when the mechanism suddenly dipped and tilted, causing audible gasps from the crowd and visible alarm on Perry’s face.
The unexpected malfunction caused Perry to pause mid-song as the butterfly’s wings stopped moving and it swayed precariously. Despite the terrifying mishap, she quickly recovered and continued singing. The moment swiftly went viral, raising concerns for the entertainer’s safety and prompting discussions about concert prop security. The TikTok account that originally posted the video revealed the butterfly wasn’t “properly” attached to its cables. Fans reacted with shock: “I’m sorry that’s actually so scary, when will artists learn to not use these types of props,” an X user questioned, while another observed, “Omg and she had no harness on.” Many noted the danger wasn’t just for Perry but for the audience below, with one person writing, “What if it had fallen and hit someone. Could have turned fatal.”
Another Troubling Incident: The Stage Invader
This mid-air scare isn’t the first time Katy Perry’s “Lifetimes” tour has made headlines for troubling reasons. Last month, a shocking incident at her Sydney concert on June 9 saw a man jump on stage and approach her during her performance of “Hot N Cold.” The man, later identified as Johnson Wen, known online as “Pyjama Man,” suddenly appeared beside her, putting an arm around her. Clearly startled, Perry quickly stepped away as he continued to leap around and briefly performed a Fortnite dance.
Two security personnel rushed in but struggled to restrain the man. Throughout the ordeal, Perry maintained remarkable composure, addressing the crowd: “Well, there’s never going to be another show like this. So just enjoy it, Sydney.” As she resumed singing, security eventually escorted Wen off stage with the help of two more personnel. The incident sparked widespread online concern about Perry’s safety and evident security flaws. Viewers questioned the delayed response, with one asking, “Why did it take Security that long to help her?” Others expressed disbelief at the fan’s behavior, while many raised serious concerns about safety protocols, noting that “Katy handled it professionally and didn’t panic, true performer behavior.” Concertgoers and fans alike highlighted the potential for worse outcomes, with one grimly wondering, “What if he had done something worse – like tried to stab her?” Another commenter critically compared the slow response to a Taylor Swift concert where security intervened almost instantly when a fan tried to grab her ankle.
The “Pyjama Man” and His Hobby of Disruption
The stage invader, Johnson Wen, has since been charged with entering enclosed land without permission and obstructing someone in the course of their duties. Wen appeared to celebrate his actions on social media, posting videos and thanking Perry for letting him “Dance for you on Stage” and fulfilling a “Childhood Memmory.” In an interview, Wen, who is unemployed and lives in a backpacker’s hostel, admitted Perry seemed frightened once she realized he wasn’t a performer, and he had intended to do “extra Fortnite moves” but security arrived “too quick.”
It turns out that stage invasions are a personal hobby for the 25-year-old, who has disrupted major events globally, including the Olympics in Paris, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the men’s Cricket World Cup final in India, where he was quickly tackled by heavy security. Despite his claims of posing no threat, Wen’s repeated actions underscore significant security lapses at major events. He was already banned from Olympic Park for storming The Weeknd’s stage and now faces a six-month ban from that precinct. Wen has accumulated approximately $20,000 in fines for his antics and now claims the incident at Perry’s concert will be his last due to the increasing legal consequences.