Lizzo’s perfect response as Melbourne concert plagued by lighting issue

Lizzo’s massive Melbourne show hit some major technical difficulties last night - but fans loved how the singer handled it.

Lizzo live in concert at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Picture: Wayne Taylor.

Visiting singer Lizzo ran into technical difficulties during the second show of her Australian arena tour on Monday night, performing in near-darkness for at least one song before she restarted her show.

Lizzo was playing the first of two nights at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena and was towards the end of her show when many of the venue’s stage and spotlights appeared to go out. She performed one of her biggest hits, the Australian 3 x platinum smash Truth Hurts, in the dark.

Lizzo (with the lights on) in Melbourne last night. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Her performance of the song included an extended flute intro and elaborate choreography – all virtually impossible for the audience to see, as she, her band and dancers were visible only as shadows on the stage.

When the lights go out at the @lizzo concert and she keeps going in the dark 😆 what an absolute legend! pic.twitter.com/ELrEB1VDIH

— Love, Sarah Xoxo (@LoveSarah_xo) July 17, 2023

The lights went off but the @lizzo booty shake show must go on! #Melbournepic.twitter.com/g52brlKN9s

— Shannon Grixti (@shannongrixti) July 17, 2023

“Can the lights come back on?” Lizzo asked during the performance, before quipping: “Did we pay the light bill, b**ch?”

The lights stayed off for long enough for some fans to start tweeting the venue, demanding they fix the issue:

@RodLaverArena get the lights on @ Lizzo

— Dr Lizzie Skinner 🩺🏳️‍🌈💉 (@drlizzieskinner) July 17, 2023

At first I thought it was a bit, but it appears the lights are broken at Rod Laver Arena? Lizzo has been in the dark for about 10 minutes pic.twitter.com/0dyXl25kzP

— Kate Pattison (@katepatto) July 17, 2023

Eventually, the lights did come back on, and the singer decided it was time for a do-over – fans who’d paid up to $180 for tickets deserved to see one of her signature songs performed in all its glory. A new addition to the setlist: Truth Hurts, 2.0.

Turn up the music, turn down the lights. Literally, as the lights went out so we got treated to two versions of Truth Hurts @[e-mail]/IJnNzwUywt

— Scarlett Harris (@ScarlettEHarris) July 17, 2023

getting to see Lizzo twerk and play the flute to truth hurts not once but twice thanks to the lights going out at rod laver was a religious experience

— courtney gould (@heyycourtt) July 17, 2023

no bc when the lights stopped working at lizzo last night she said ‘did we pay the light bill bitch’ it was so funny 😭😭

— jack GOT ERAS TICKETS 16/2 (@PRADAMIRR0RBALL) July 17, 2023

Well, @lizzo was super fun and uplifting - even when the lights on part of the stage failed she kept going, and then re-did the song and flute piece, and had the audience cheering the whole time. She's incredibly talented and works her arse off, and seems kind.

— Temple Connolly (@tea_n_see) July 17, 2023

Rather than being upset at the technical hitch, fans praised the singer for soldiering on and treating them to a second rendition of the song.

“I tell ya @lizzo is out here WORKING holy s**t what a show! At one point the lights stopped working for a whole song and when they got them back up she said f**k it we’re taking it AGAIN. She is unstoppable,” one fan tweeted.

Another agreed, calling it an “absolute gift of a moment.”

Lizzo plays another show at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena tonight, before her Australian tour moves to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday and Monday.

Originally published as Lizzo’s perfect response as Melbourne concert plagued by lighting issue