Pop star Kesha stirred controversy over the weekend following a provocative performance during her headline set at London’s Mighty Hoopla festival.
The singer, 38, raised eyebrows while performing her new track Boy Crazy, during which she dropped to her knees and suggestively bit into a banana held at the waist of a male dancer — an act many online deemed “vulgar” and attention-seeking.
Wearing a red latex bodysuit and knee-high boots, Kesha mimicked an explicit act that drew immediate reactions from the audience. While the live crowd responded with laughter and cheers, a video of the stunt shared to Instagram quickly sparked criticism. Commenters labeled the display “cringe” and “embarrassing,” with some accusing the singer of resorting to shock value to stay relevant. “Music is supposed to be art, not porn,” one viewer wrote, while another added, “She’s setting a very bad example.”
-Instagram.
Some compared the moment to other recent celebrity stunts, including Sydney Sweeney’s controversial bath water merchandise, accusing artists of prioritising sensationalism over substance.
Despite the online backlash, Kesha’s performance was not without praise. Clips of her singing her hit ballad Praying were also shared on social media, with fans praising the emotional delivery. “Incredible on so many levels,” one user wrote. “You truly summed up the mood of the weekend.”
The Mighty Hoopla appearance marked a mix of reactions for the American artist, with her bold stage antics drawing both applause and scorn — reflecting the divide over the role of theatrics and boundaries in modern pop performances.
