Beyoncé’s concert in Houston on Saturday night was briefly interrupted when the elaborate stage prop, a red Cadillac suspended on cables, started to tilt mid-air.
The 43-year-old performer was sitting in the car, high above her fans, near the end of her Cowboy Carter stadium show, when the incident occurred. “Stop! Stop, stop, stop stop,” Beyoncé said, bringing an abrupt end to her country ballad, “16 Carriages”.
The audience gasped in shock, but their concern quickly turned to applause as Beyoncé was slowly lowered to the ground, smiling and waving to the crowd.
“If ever I fall, I know y’all will catch me,” she said later, showcasing her confidence and professionalism despite the technical mishap. Fans took to social media to share videos of the frightening moment, with many commenting with Beyoncé’s catchphrase “somebody’s getting fired”, which she previously used on stage during a lighting problem in 2010.
Beyoncé’s company, Parkwood Entertainment, released a statement attributing the incident to a “technical mishap” that caused the car to tilt. “She was quickly lowered and no one was injured. The show continued without incident,” the statement added, reassuring fans that the safety of the performers and audience was prioritized.
This was not the first prop malfunction Beyoncé has experienced during her tours. Earlier in the Cowboy Carter tour, a robot designed to pour her a drink missed its mark, leaving a puddle of Sir Davis whisky on the stage.
In 2018, during her On The Run II tour with husband Jay-Z, a moving platform broke, forcing Beyoncé to climb down a ladder while wearing heels and a sequined leotard.
The performance in Houston, Texas, marked the 23rd show of Beyoncé’s 32-show Cowboy Carter tour, which is set to wrap up in Las Vegas next month. The three-hour extravaganza has been praised for its high-energy and artistry, featuring appearances by Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughters, Blue and Rumi. The tour has broken ticket records at notable venues like the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London and Stade De France in Paris.
Beyoncé’s professionalism and dedication to her craft have earned her widespread acclaim, and despite the technical issues, her show continues to dazzle audiences worldwide.
The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in staging large-scale concerts, but also highlights Beyoncé’s ability to think on her feet and handle unexpected situations with ease.