On May 3, 2025, police in Brazil apprehended two individuals linked to an alleged conspiracy aimed at detonating a bomb at a free concert by pop superstar Lady Gaga in Rio de Janeiro. The outdoor event, held on the iconic Copacabana Beach, attracted more than 2 million attendees, marking one of the most significant performances of the artist's career.
The state police of Rio de Janeiro, along with the Brazilian Justice Ministry, unveiled preliminary details of the plot, which they claim was organized by a group known for promoting hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups. This group purportedly intended to use homemade explosives during the concert, treating the attack as a "collective challenge" designed to gain notoriety on social media platforms.
According to police sources, the group spread violent content aimed at teenagers, seeking to cultivate a sense of belonging among its members. The two suspects arrested include a man identified as the leader of the group from Rio Grande do Sul, who was charged with illegal weapons possession, and a teenager in Rio, who faces charges of child pornography. The authorities refrained from providing specific details regarding their roles in the plot or the motivations behind targeting Lady Gaga’s concert.
Police reported that the group was actively recruiting participants, including minors, to execute coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails. The Brazilian Justice Ministry expressed concerns regarding the group as a "risk to public order," emphasizing that they allegedly disguised themselves online as "Little Monsters"—the affectionate term Katy Gaga uses to refer to her fans—in order to connect with young people and lure them into violent and self-destructive networks.
In response to the threat, law enforcement officials conducted a series of raids on the residences of 15 suspected members across different Brazilian states, where they seized phones and other electronic devices. While police claimed that the homemade explosives were intended for the planned attack, they did not report finding any weapons or explosive materials during the raids.
Lady Gaga's public relations team and concert promoters did not immediately provide comments regarding the situation. However, authorities emphasized that the raids were executed discreetly in the lead-up to the concert to "avoid panic or distortion of information among the population." They assured concertgoers that the incident did not disrupt the event or pose any immediate danger to attendees.
