Rio Police Foil Attackers Allegedly Targeting Lady Gaga’s LGBTQIA+ Fans At Copacabana
News emerged from Brazil over the weekend detailing a serious security threat targeting Lady Gaga’s massive free concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach. Authorities successfully intervened, arresting two individuals allegedly involved in a plot to detonate explosives during the event, which attracted more than two million fans on Saturday.
Two people were arrested in connection with an alleged bomb attack plot targeting Lady Gaga's free concert on Copacabana Beach Saturday night, Brazilian Civil Police confirmed.
— ABC News (@ABC) May 4, 2025
Despite the threat, the concert proceeded without incident.
Read more: https://t.co/lNjb2bcLrG pic.twitter.com/JepGAC9Nfj
Operation Fake Monster Nets Suspects
Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police confirmed the foiled attack via social media on Sunday. They stated an adult, believed to be responsible for the plan, and a teenager were arrested. The police operation was pointedly codenamed Operation Fake Monster, a direct reference to Little Monsters, the affectionate name Lady Gaga uses for her dedicated fanbase.
The police investigation involved coordinated raids not only in Rio de Janeiro state but also extended to Sao Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso. Officials indicated the suspects had attempted to recruit people online, encouraging them to carry out attacks using improvised explosives.
Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show—the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil. The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I… pic.twitter.com/KCXvMxakZx
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) May 4, 2025
Plot Aimed At LGBTQIA+ Community and Online Notoriety
Disturbingly, the motivation behind the alleged plot appears to have been hatred directed towards the LGBTQIA+ community. Felipe Cury, Rio’s Police Secretary, stated on Sunday that the suspects sought to target people based on their sexual orientation. He mentioned they had “clearly” stated this intention. Beyond the hateful motive, police suggested the suspects were also chasing online infamy. Rio Police Chief Luiz Lima added that the group disseminated “hate speech and violent content online” aiming to attract “more viewers, more participants – most of them teenagers, many of them children.”
Show Goes On Amid Tight Security
Despite the arrests happening in the hours before the performance, the Saturday concert proceeded without any disruption. Rio City Hall estimated the crowd size at an incredible 2.1 million people. Security was understandably high, with 5,200 military and police officers deployed across the famous beach. Fans enjoyed Gaga’s performance, including hits like Born This Way, a song widely embraced as an LGBTQIA+ anthem since its release in 2011.
Lady Gaga's team speaks out after police arrested two people in connection with an alleged plot to bomb her concert in Brazil:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 4, 2025
“We learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning. Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any… pic.twitter.com/OW2LwBlpm4
A spokesperson for Lady Gaga released a statement confirming the star and her team only learned about the specific threat the morning after the concert, stating they “had not been aware of safety concerns prior to and during the show”. The statement emphasised close cooperation with law enforcement throughout the planning stages, adding, “all parties were confident in the safety measures in place.” The free concert itself was a notable event, offering a large scale live music experience accessible to millions.
