Katy Perry Goes Viral For Stumbling & Looking Lost at Coronation

Katy Perry

Heavy/Getty Katy Perry takes selfies with fellow attendees at the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London

Pop superstar Katy Perry unintentionally stole a bit of the spotlight from the Royal Family during the historic coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023. She and fellow “American Idol” judge Lionel Richie were both invited to perform during the Coronation Concert, taking place in London on Sunday, and were among only a handful of celebrities who got to attend the coronation ceremony, too.

Perry received many positive reviews for her fashionable Vivienne Westwood lavender skirt suit and elbow-length gloves, per Vogue, topped off with what Harper’s Bazaar called a “dramatic circular fascinator.” But Perry didn’t only stand out for her outfit.

Arriving with British Vogue’s Edward Enninful, videos of Perry looking lost as she searched for her seat inside Westminster Abbey quickly went viral, as did photos of her nearly falling over outside the church. Here’s what you need to know:


Katy Perry Causes a Stir Searching For Her Seat at Coronation

Katy Perry

GettyKaty Perry at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London

As Perry joined an estimated 2,000 guests inside the cathedral, per InStyle, a video of her aimlessly searching for her seat quickly went viral on Twitter. The star could be seen wandering around, eyeing different rows of pews, and eventually asking the people in one whether she was sitting with them.

The moment had Perry trending on Twitter throughout the day, with over 36,000 tweets about it within hours, including funny reactions and clever memes.

One person who shared the video wrote, “Katy Perry not finding her seat is so me 😭”

Another wrote, “me as a kid going aisle to aisle after getting lost in the grocery store 😭”

Upon learning she’d gone viral, Perry joined in the fun and tweeted, “don’t worry guys i found my seat”

Once she was settled, Perry nearly broke the internet again when viewers noticed her looking around, noticing a TV camera that was following her every move, and then giving it the cold shoulder. Some compared the moment to a viral 2022 video of fellow pop star Adele ignoring cameras at an NBA game, including one Twitter user who posted the two videos side by side.

It was actually the second time in a week that Perry had trouble finding her seat. During the May 1 live episode of “American Idol,” which is filming in a new studio this season, she took a wrong turn on stage as she entered the theater. After she wandered into the crowd, looking for a way to get to the judges’ table, host Ryan Seacrest grabbed her arm and had to escort her there.


Katy Perry Caught Tripping Outside Westminster Abbey

Katy Perry stumbles

GettyKaty Perry stumbles while leaving Westminster Abbey

After the two-hour formal coronation, Perry made headlines again when photojournalists captured her tripping or slipping on a wet sidewalk outside Westminster Abbey. Luckily, she recovered quickly and did not fully fall.

Perry didn’t mention any of her viral moments in an Instagram post she shared following the ceremony, with multiple photos of her outfit.

She wrote, “Was such an honor to be able to watch history being made today at the coronation of King Charles III! I am so grateful to have been invited by The King on behalf of the @thebritishasiantrust and their Children Protection Fund, an organization I’ve deeply believed in and have been fortunate to support for the last 3 years🙏🏻Thank you @viviennewestwood for making me feel so lovely in lavender💜🇬🇧”

Things went much smoother at the event for her colleague, Richie, who also attended the coronation ceremony but was not seated near his fellow “Idol” judge. Richie was photographed inside, talking and taking selfies with attendees.

Richie told Sky News, “This is not an everyday occurrence. I’m walking into history. This is the greatest show on earth right now. To have an invite to this is everything.”

Lionel Richie

GettyLionel Richie at Westminster Abbey ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 06, 2023

Perry and Richie were among the only American celebrities in attendance, both invited because of their involvement in British charities on behalf of King Charles.

Other entertainers in attendance, per Sky News, included British actresses Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, and Dame Emma Thompson as well as Australian singer Nick Cave, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, and comedian Stephen Fry.

Because they’re performing at the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle on May 7, both Perry and Richie will miss the May 7 episode of “American Idol,” and will be temporarily replaced by guest judges Alanis Morissette and Ed Sheeran.