Katy Perry was getting her hair and makeup done backstage when she got the news: her set was canceled. The pop star had been scheduled to headline Werchter Boutique in Belgium on Saturday night, but severe weather threats forced officials to shut the festival down early.
She was mid-glam when the decision came through. The call came from the Rock Werchter Safety Committee and the governor of Flemish Brabant, who issued a BE-Alert over the incoming storms. The festival would end at 9 p.m., an hour before her set was scheduled to begin.
Perry took to Instagram to break the news to fans. The Katy Perry Werchter Boutique cancellation was a government-mandated decision, she explained, and completely out of her hands.
“Sadly my set @WerchterBoutique tonight can’t happen due to a government-mandated cancellation because of the incoming inclement weather and crowd safety concerns,” she wrote. “I was backstage at the show in the middle of hair and makeup when this news was delivered, and they gave me no choice. I am just as unhappy as you are.”
The festival drew 55,000 attendees, and organizers prioritized a safe, orderly exit before thunderstorms hit around midnight. Pitbull still performed, but Perry’s set was scrapped entirely.
The cancellation hit especially hard because Perry had been looking forward to returning to Werchter after 17 years. She even planned to wear the same outfit from her 2009 appearance.
“I am sorry I can’t change the weather, and even sorrier that all of us can’t be together tonight,” she wrote. “I was looking forward to being back after 17 years, I was even gonna wear the same outfit from that 2009 show again. I love you all, and please get home safe.”
She shared a photo of herself outside in a robe and striped sweatpants, smoking a cigarette, with her intended outfit laid out beside her.
Organizers confirmed the early shutdown was strictly about safety. Forecasts predicted severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, hail, and potentially damaging wind gusts. A BE-Alert was issued for Flemish Brabant, warning residents of the incoming storms.
“By bringing the festival to a close early, we can ensure that the exit of visitors will proceed in a safe and orderly manner, allowing everyone to return home calmly,” organizers stated. “The safety and health of everyone present is always our top priority.”
