Katy Perry was forced to cancel her scheduled performance at the Belgian music festival Werchter Boutique on Saturday, mere hours before she was due to take the stage. The singer announced the cancellation via Instagram, explaining that the decision was due to a government-mandated order stemming from dangerous weather conditions and crowd safety concerns.
Perry, 41, was set to headline the festival following Pitbull's performance. However, as severe thunderstorms were predicted for the area, festival organizers made the decision to end the event early at 9 p.m. Perry's set was slated to begin an hour later. "Sadly my set @WerchterBoutique tonight can't happen due to a government mandated cancellation because of the incoming inclement weather and crowd safety concerns," Perry wrote in her announcement.
She explained that she was backstage preparing for her performance when the news was delivered, leaving her with "no choice." Perry expressed her disappointment to fans, stating, "I am just as unhappy as you are." She emphasized that the situation was "beyond my control" and that the safety of attendees was the top priority. "I am sorry I can't change the weather, and even sorrier that all of us can't be together tonight," she added.
The singer had planned to wear an outfit from her 2009 appearance at the festival. "I was even gonna wear the same outfit from that 2009 show again. I love you all, and please get home safe," she concluded, sharing a photo of herself in loungewear with the outfit laid out nearby. Perry also included the official festival announcement regarding the early closure.
This cancellation comes shortly after the release of Perry's new music video for her track "Watch It Burn." The song and video have been interpreted by some fans as referencing her past relationship with Orlando Bloom, with whom she shares a daughter. Perry has spoken about the song in recent interviews, describing it as an exploration of processing anger and past difficulties. She has also spoken about her current relationship with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, whom she has called "the love of my life."
Perry is scheduled to perform at other festivals throughout the summer, including a July 30 date at Depot Live in Cardiff, U.K. Her recent album, "Katy Perry: Teenage Dream - The Complete Confection," marked a significant chapter in her career, and she has been active in promoting new music and appearing at events.