Katy Perry forced to cancel shows in Mexico amid pop star's global Lifetimes Tour following backlash over Blue Origin space flight

Sky News AU

22-04-2025

Pop star Katy Perry has been forced to cancel two upcoming shows in Mexico amid backlash over her Blue Origin space flight.
Perry, 40, took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce her shows in the western Mexico city of Guadalajara on May 1 and 2, which formed part of her global Lifetimes Tour, had been cancelled due to incomplete construction at the host stadium.
"Sadly, I learned that the construction of Arena Guadalajara will not be complete for their scheduled shows next week, which includes mine on May 1 and 2," she said.
"Last week, I sent my team to the Arena to make sure there wasn't anything we could do to make this happen, but it was evident when they arrived that the venue was not ready or safe to receive my show or an audience.
"I wish I could fix this, but it is beyond my control. You guys mean the world to me, and we have all been on such a beautiful journey together that I will be thinking about how I can create something special for the fans in Guadalajara in the future.
"I love you ALL."
On Tuesday, venue operator Zignia Live also announced shows by singer Carlos Rivera and the band Intocable were cancelled on April 25 and 26, respectively, due to circumstances "out of the control of the artists".
"And we deeply appreciate your support and understanding,' Zignia Live said in a statement.
The setback comes as Perry kicked off her Lifetimes Tour in Mexico City on Wednesday before the I Kissed A Girl hitmaker is due to perform in Australian cities Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth in June.
She safely returned to Earth last week after reaching space aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin New Shepard rocket.
For the first time since 1963, the all-female flight crew included Bezos's fiancee Lauren Sánchez, CBS broadcaster Gayle King, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, activist Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn.
Perry said their 11-minute mission was for "the benefit of Earth" and kissed the planet's ground when she exited the craft after landing.
However, research revealed the Blue Origin rocket launch released greenhouse gases, which "altered the stratosphere".
Despite the aerospace company's claim the "only byproduct of New Shepard's engine combustion is water vapour with no carbon emissions" during flight, University College London's Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality professor Eloise Marais said water vapour is a greenhouse gas that depletes the "ozone layer, and also forms clouds that affect climate".
The research coincided with Perry's resurfaced UNICEF weather report in 2015 on the effects of climate change "hurting children around the world."
Actress and model Emily Ratajkowski said she was "literally disgusted" Perry's space travel had effectively undermined the pop star's own cause.
"This is beyond parody. Saying that you care about Mother Earth, and you're going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that's single-handedly destroying the planet," Ratajkowski said on TikTok.
Actress Olivia Munn also criticised the expedition on the Today show earlier this month, saying it costs "so much money to go to space."
"There's a lot of people who can't even afford eggs...I think it's a bit gluttonous," Munn said.
"Space exploration was to further our knowledge and to help mankind.
"What are they going to do up there that has made it better for us down here?"
Podcast host Joe Rogan also mocked Perry for bringing a daisy to space with her in a tribute to her daughter Daisy, which she flashed to the cameras as the crew floated around the capsule.
'She brought a daisy, which is super important. It shows you how quick the flight was,' Rogan said in an episode of his podcast earlier this month.
'The dead daisy that's like snipped from its life source was still alive or still vibrant.'