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Kesha Says Prop Knife Was Switched With a Real One at Lollapalooza Without Her Knowing

The star danced with the cutlery during her performance of "Backstabber."

Kesha performs onstage during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 01, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

Kesha performs onstage during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 01, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

Joshua Applegate/WireImage

Kesha was dangerously close to becoming a literal “Backstabber” while performing the song at her Lollapalooza set, something she didn’t even realize until afterward. According to the pop star, her prop knife was switched out for a real blade before she went onstage Thursday night — not that anyone told her about it.

“sooooo apparently the prop knife went missing,” she tweeted that night. “and they replaced it with a real butcher knife stolen from the kitchen. and i didn’t know. till now. so watch that again….”


Billboard has reached out to Kesha’s reps and Lollapalooza for comment.

The knife in question appeared midway through the musician’s set in Chicago, as captured in videos from her performance of “Backstabber.” As she sang the Animal deep cut (no pun intended), Kesha swung the prop around, pointed it at the audience and twirled it in circles, apparently not realizing that she was holding an actual blade.

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During her set, the California native also performed her new single “Joyride,” which fittingly dropped on the Fourth of July as it marked her first release as an independent artist, having completed her contract with Kemosabe Records in December. She also called out former president Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate JD Vance while on stage, according to fans on social media. Two days prior, she’d tweeted, “bring your middle fingers lolla, f–k u jd Vance.”

Kesha also put the Ohio senator on blast while on her way to LAX last week, calling his comments about the Democratic party being made up of “childless cat ladies” sexist. “Booooo! F–k that man,” she added to a photographer at the time, according to the video obtained by TMZ. “That’s all I have to say. F–k them all.”

See Kesha’s tweet about the knife incident below.

This article was originally published by Billboard U.S.

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Dave Mustaine from Megadeth performs on stage at the Tons of Rock festival on June 28, 2025 in Oslo, Norway.
Per Ole Hagen/Redferns

Dave Mustaine from Megadeth performs on stage at the Tons of Rock festival on June 28, 2025 in Oslo, Norway.

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Megadeth Announces Final Album & Tour With a Message to Fans: ‘Don’t Be Mad, Don’t Be Sad’

"For over four decades, I've been chained in silence, but the end demands my voice," Vic Rattlehead begins in his video announcement.

Megadeth is saying farewell. After 16 albums, the band’s frontman, Dave Mustaine, announced on Thursday (Aug. 14) that their next project will be their last, with a goodbye tour to support it. The news came in the form of a video posted to the band’s YouTube page and social media accounts, featuring Mustaine’s alter ego, Vic Rattlehead breaking the news.

“For over four decades, I’ve been chained in silence, but the end demands my voice,” Vic begins while seated behind a desk. “It is confirmed: The next Megadeth studio album will be the last. Forty years of metal, forged in steel, ending in fire. And when the new year rises, the global farewell tour. You’ve heard the warning. Now prepare yourself, Cyber Army. Stay loud, stay tuned, and meet me on the frontlines.”

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.
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