known as the "Little Monsters."The operation was based on a report by the ministry's Cyber Operations Lab following a tip-off from Rio state police intelligence
which uncovered digital cells encouraging violent behavior among teenagers using coded language and extremist symbolism.A man described as the group's leader was arrested in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul for illegal possession of a firearm
while a teenager in Rio de Janeiro was detained for storing child pornography.Authorities carried out over a dozen search and seizure warrants across the states of Rio de Janeiro
Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo.Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Mark Porter
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"The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails," the police said in a statement. Scroll through for more photos from Lady Gaga's Rio show.
Fireworks are seen at the end of Lady Gaga's open concert, in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 3, 2025.
Fans gather ahead of Lady Gaga's concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 3, 2025.
Displays show Lady Gaga performing at an open concert in Copacabana beach as seen from Leme fort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fans wait outside for Lady Gaga's concert in Brazil.
Fans pose for pictures outside for Lady Gaga's concert in Brazil.
Lady Gaga performs during a massive free show at Copacabana Beach on May 3, 2025.
People in the crowd of Lady Gaga's Brazil show.
Lady Gaga performs during an open concert at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Lady Gaga performs on stage in all white.
Lady Gaga performs during a massive free show at Copacabana Beach on May 3, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Th Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro said it carried out a joint operation with the justice ministry against a group that was spreading hate speech and preparing an attack mainly against children
adolescents and members of the LGBTQIA+ community
The leader of the plan and a teenager have been arrested
The group had been promoting the radicalisation of teenagers including hate crimes
pedophilia and violent content as a form of "challenge" among young people on digital platforms
Around two million people gathered on Copacabana beach to see Lady Gaga perform at a free concert on Saturday in Rio
The free concert was paid for by the local authority in an effort to boost the economy
told a press conference on Sunday said the suspects "were clearly saying that they were planning an attack at Lady Gaga’s concert motivated by sexual orientation."
The police launched "Operation Fake Monster" after a tip-off from intelligence services to the plan
The operation identified those involved were recruiting participants including teenagers
to carry out attacks using improvises explosives and Molotov cocktails
Police said: "The plan was treated as a 'collective challenge' with the aim of gaining notoriety on social media."
The Justice Ministry said members of the group falsely presented themselves online as “Little Monsters” — Lady Gaga's nickname for her fans
was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm in Rio Grande do Sul
and a teenager was arrested for storing child pornography in Rio
15 search warrants were issued against nine targets in Rio de Janeiro
Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso where electronic devices other materials were seized
A spokesperson for Lady Gaga said the pop star and her team “learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning
nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks.”
The statement added: “Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place.”
The show was paid for by local authorities in Rio de Janeiro in an effort to help boost its economy
It's believed the free concert raised almost £80 million for the Brazilian city
More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city
more than double than what was expected according to Rio's City Hall
Police said they carried out the operation quietly on Saturday “avoiding panic or distortion of information among the population." The ministry said there was no impact on those attending the free concert
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Lady Gaga performs during a free show at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on May 3
2025 at 2:28 PM EDTBookmarkSaveBrazilian police said Sunday that they intercepted a plot to set off explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert that drew more than 2 million people to Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach this weekend
Chelsea forward Joao Felix is almost certain to leave the club this summer
According to A Bola
Brazilian outfit Flamengo are interested in signing the Portuguese forward
Felix has struggled to find a permanent home over the past couple of years
His summer switch to Chelsea was supposed to mark a new start
he has failed to establish himself in Enzo Maresca’s squad
Maresca never passed on a chance to wax lyrical about Felix’s quality
but he couldn’t find a permanent spot for the forward in his complex system
After struggling for playing time in the first six months at the Bridge
It seemed like a safe haven when he scored on his debut
but his loan spell at San Siro has gone downhill since
Milan have decided against keeping Felix beyond his six-month spell
He will return to Chelsea at the end of the season
but will most likely be on the move again this summer
Flamengo dream of luring Felix to Brazil and are ready to table an initial loan proposal with the prospect of a permanent move
But the 25-year-old is not ready to call time on his European adventure
but Brazil will not be his next destination – not unless no other European club is willing to give him an umpteenth chance to prove he belongs on the big stage
Chelsea invested £45 million in signing Felix from Atletico Madrid
When they move him on at the end of the season
they’ll be keen to get most of their investment back
Benfica have previously expressed an interest
The Premier League club will be more focused on keeping Marcus Rashford
but there’s a chance they could offer Felix an escape route
The upcoming summer transfer window is make-or-break for Chelsea
Arsenal have reportedly won the race to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos is reportedly on the radar of several top..
Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer earned a deserved Premier League Man of the Match award..
As Liverpool arrive at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to receive a guard of honour,..
Jonathan Tah has triggered transfer speculation in recent months after confirming he is ready..
Chelsea are interested in a summer transfer move for Aston Villa ace Morgan Rogers,..
Chelsea are considering selling centre-half Wesley Fofana this summer if the opportunity arises
Cruzeiro versus Flamengo had one of THOSE scripts at Mineirão
Kaio Jorge and Arrascaeta - who are going through great moments - ensured the tie
secured the 2-1 celestial victory already at 50' of the final stage
Game that was valid for the seventh round of the competition and played in front of 52,792 people
It had been ten years since the Fox's victories over the Red-Black in BR games
There's been plenty of confidence for the Fox's number 19
Sixth goal in six games playing as a starter since he gained that status
And he almost scored another after a shot that Rossi deflected onto the crossbar
Christian also had a great chance after a good start to the celestial game
The Red-Black's greatest possession of the ball wasn't translating into great chances
Léo Ortiz was the first to bring real danger
And it only took one well-worked play for Flamengo to tie with Arrascaeta
who didn't celebrate after scoring against his former club (44')
Sixth goal from the isolated top scorer in the Brasileirão
And a first half with a lot of intensity at the Gigante da Pampulha
After a period without the same rhythm seen in the initial stage
Rossi became the protagonist by saving Matheus Pereira's and Kaio Jorge's attempts
Filipe Luís's first substitutions didn't take effect
The response from the Rio team came at 41'
when Cássio made another great intervention to prevent Bruno Henrique's goal
The minutes were of exchanges from both sides - including Gabigol's entry
Léo Pereira committed a penalty on Eduardo
but took advantage of the rebound to score against his former club
Cruzeiro confirms it's going through a "new moment" by ending the long Red-Black series in the Brasileirão
Palmeiras had taken the lead by reaching 16
Both will focus on their respective South American competitions
the Fox - still zeroed - will visit leader and 100% Mushuc Runa for the South American Cup
will face leader Central Córdoba for the Libertadores
They will return to play in the Brasileirão next weekend
A crowd of more than 2 million wasn’t the only reason it got hot on Brazil’s Copacabana Beach over the weekend
See how legions of Lady Gaga fans beat the heat for the historic concert
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Brazilian police say they prevented a planned bomb attack targeting the free Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night
According to a statement from police
a group was attempting to attack "children
and the LGBTQIA+ community." Two people allegedly involved were arrested in raids across different states
the attack's alleged organizers were recruiting participants online — including teenagers — to carry out the bombing using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails
was to frame the attack as a "collective challenge" and gain notoriety on social media
Police said one person arrested was the alleged leader of the group
and the other was a teenager arrested for storing child pornography
Police said 15 search and seizure warrants were served against nine "targets" in multiple cities and that authorities gathered "electronic devices and other materials."
A representative for Lady Gaga did not immediately return NPR's request for comment, but told The Associated Press that the pop star's team learned about the alleged threat via media reports on Sunday morning
nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks."
In an Instagram post following the concert
the artist said the show was a "historical moment."
"Thank you Rio for waiting for me to come back
Thank you little monsters all over the world," she said
I will never forget this moment," she wrote
Last year, Madonna held a similar free concert at Copacabana Beach. An estimated 1.6 million people attended that show.
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Fans poured on to Copacabana beach from around Brazil for show that beat Madonna’s record audience size
More than 2 million people packed Copacabana beach on Saturday night for a free Lady Gaga concert
breaking a Rio de Janeiro record set last year by Madonna
which drew 1.6 million to the Brazilian city’s shores
It was a moment of unadulterated joy for Brazil’s particularly dedicated fans
many of whom are too young to have seen Gaga during her last performance in the country 13 years ago
Anticipation was even higher as Gaga had cancelled a planned appearance in 2017 for medical reasons
View image in fullscreenThe atmosphere among the crowd was part-frenzy
Photograph: Bruna Prado/AP“She came,” the ecstatic crowd chanted as Gaga appeared on stage shortly after 10pm local time
The staunchest monstrinhos arrived before dawn and spent the day under the blazing sunshine to secure a spot near the stage
“I’ve been waiting for this for 15 years,” said Ana Clara Salomão
a 26-year-old designer from São Paulo and self-professed Little Monster since the age of 11
“There are no words to describe my levels of excitement
hiding behind a black veil and bugeye sunglasses
People poured into Rio from all over Brazil and South America for the show
part of a series of promotional concerts the pop star is putting on before her next tour
View image in fullscreenThe show was the biggest yet of Lady Gaga’s career
Photograph: Pilar Olivares/Reuters“I’ve been preparing the trip for months,” said Betina Faundes
a 40-year-old shopkeeper from Chile whose 18-year-old daughter Barbara Marin is a lifelong fan
who has tattoos referencing the artist’s songs inked on her forearms
The atmosphere was part-frenzy, part-reverence during Gaga’s five-act “gothic opera”, which saw her cycle through her Coachella set list
interspersing tracks from her latest album
with hits from her early electro-dance pop years such as Paparazzi and Poker Face
Nods to her Brazilian audience included a chorus of dancers wearing the country’s canary-yellow football shirt during How Bad Do U Want Me and an interpreter translating her emotional speech into Portuguese
View image in fullscreenThe turnout topped Madonna’s free show last year
which drew 1.6 million people to the beach
Photograph: Andre Coelho/EPA“Thank you for making history with me,” the 39-year-old told the adoring crowd
“The people of Brazil are the reason why I can shine.”
Little Monsters wearing extravagant outfits in homage to Gaga had overrun Rio in the days leading up to Saturday
infusing the city with an out-of-season carnival atmosphere
Hundreds of fans held vigil outside the Copacabana Palace Hotel
where the singer had been staying since Tuesday
singing her latest songs at the top of their lungs and revelling in a shared sense of community
very important in my life,” said Bella Donna
a 20-year-old drag queen from southern Brazil
“She’s fought hard and continues to fight today for the [LGBTQ+] cause
embracing people and making them understand that there’s no problem in being gay
the world has to welcome us and respect us.”
When Lady Gaga started singing the LGBTQ+ anthem Born This Way
thousands of spectators held up rainbow-coloured fans
slicing them through the air in time to the music with a sharp snapping sound
View image in fullscreenFans waved rainbow-coloured fans during the song Born This Way
Photograph: Bruna Prado/APFor Karolayne Araújo
Gaga’s universal appeal is what makes her so popular
she sings for everybody and embraces everybody,” said the 21-year-old student
who spent more than two hours on public transport to reach Copacabana from Rio’s working-class West Zone
Although more affluent spectators watching the show from brightly lit beachside apartments served as a reminder of Brazil’s deep inequality
the free nature of the concert made it accessible to many who would otherwise never have the opportunity of seeing the superstar live
“The fact that she’s playing for free is a dream come true,” said 19-year-old student Hugo Monteiro
for everyone to be able to feel the emotion of seeing Gaga live
View image in fullscreenMany ‘Little Monsters’ arrived before dawn to get a good spot near the stage
Photograph: Pablo Porciúncula/AFP/Getty ImagesThe concert
which city authorities expect will have injected 600m reais (£80m) into the local economy
is part of a project through which Rio plans to host a free music show of epic proportions every May for the next four years
Madonna and Lady Gaga – whose climactic Bad Romance finale ended with heart-shaped fireworks exploding overhead – will be tough acts to follow
“there is no better place in the world to host free concerts”
because “we put on a show with the artist”
Lady Gaga gave a free concert in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night in front of at least a million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career
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a man in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul was arrested for illegal firearm possession and a teenager in Rio de Janeiro was taken into custody on child pornography charges
both in connection with an alleged plot to detonate homemade explosive devices at the show
officers claim that they did not contact the event’s organizers at the time to “avoid panic” and “the distortion of information”
“We learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning,” representatives for Lady Gaga shared in a statement to Pitchfork
nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks
Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place.”
Lady Gaga wrote: “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.” Find her message below
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Lady Gaga holding a pride flag and performing at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro
Mother Monster makes history with concert in Brazil dedicated to queer fans
On Saturday, May 3, Lady Gaga's highly anticipated concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil broke the all-time record for most attended live show by a female artist in history — bringing together an audience of 2.1 million people who witnessed the singer dedicating this career milestone to the LGBTQ+ community
Local authorities in Rio de Janeiro and event organizers have officially announced that a record-breaking 2.1 million attendees watched Gaga's The Mayhem Ball set at the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro this Saturday evening
which followed Gaga's dazzling sets at Coachella 2025 and a promotional show in Mexico City
was an all-out love letter to the LGBTQ+ community and to the singer's passionate Brazilian fans who had last seen her perform in the country 13 years ago
The overwhelming energy of over 2 million people singing
and screaming the lyrics to Gaga's entire concert setlist had the singer
and her team of dancers getting emotional at various points of the performance
News outlet G1 confirmed the number of 2.1 million attendees and noted that 500,000 tourists arrived in Rio de Janeiro since May 1 to attend the event
The report also mentioned that the attendance for Gaga's Copacabana concert bested Madonna's show from last year — which brought together 1.6 million fans
As Gaga faced this historic and energetic crowd
she delivered several nods honoring Brazilian culture
and thanked her fans in the LGBTQ+ community for sticking by her side and not making her feel alone
Mother Monster expressed her love and gratitude for Brazil's LGBTQ+ community
"Thank you for teaching us all," she said
while praising the "light" and "energy" that they had brought into her life
Gaga also thanked the fans who showed up to her hotel — the famous Copacabana Palace — and serenaded her with songs from Mayhem
singing every word," Gaga said during the concert
Highlights of this emotional exchange between Mother Monster and her queer fans took place during her performances of "Born This Way" and "Vanish Into You." Gaga also waved a pride flag in the air at the climax of the Copacabana set
yet again using her time in the spotlight to show her love and respect for the LGBTQ+ community
Gaga and her team of dancers also got visibly emotional after performing the last song of the night
"Bad Romance," and taking a bow — extending their time on stage to take in the view of over 2 million people showing nothing but love and praise for the performers
fans spontaneously started to sing an encore of "Bad Romance" — which prompted Gaga to join them
once again acknowledging the staggering number of people in front of her knowing every single word to her vast catalog of songs
Music critics and fans on social media are also unanimously praising the TV broadcast of the performance
this Mayhem concert broadcast and livestream included imaginative shots
and unique perspectives that had viewers feeling like they were already watching the final edit of The Mayhem Ball on a streaming service — not a live event that was happening right in front of us
Lady Gaga
made pop music history in Rio de Janeiro tonight
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He's also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. Otherwise, you can find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. Otherwise, you can find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Madonna performs in the final show of her The Celebration Tour, on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Madonna performs in the final show of her The Celebration Tour, on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Boats sit idle off Copacabana beach as fans watch Madonna’s final show of her The Celebration Tour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday, May 4, 2024 (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Madonna rehearses in a mask for her Celebration tour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Madonna, who removed her mask at the end of rehearsal, will conclude her tour on Saturday with a free concert at Copacabana Beach. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A fan dances while waiting for the start of Madonna’s last show of her The Celebration Tour, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A fan strikes a pose as he waits for the start of Madonna’s last show of her The Celebration Tour, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Fans take a selfie as they wait for the start of Madonna’s last show of The Celebration Tour, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A fan strikes a pose as she waits for the start of Madonna’s last show of her The Celebration Tour, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A fan poses for a picture as she waits for the start of Madonna’s last show of her The Celebration Tour, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Fans wait for the start of Madonna’s last show of her The Celebration Tour, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Police officers patrol prior to the start of Madonna’s last show of her The Celebration Tour, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A fan of Madonna, wearing a mask, strikes a pose during a rehearsal for Madonna’s The Celebration Tour, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Madonna will conclude her tour on Saturday with a free concert at Copacabana Beach. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro’s vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
The “Queen of Pop” began the show with her 1998 hit “Nothing Really Matters.” Huge cheers rose from the buzzing, tightly packed crowd, pressed up against the barriers. Others held house parties in brightly lighted apartments and hotels overlooking the beachfront. Helicopters and drones flew overhead, and motorboats and sailboats anchored off the beach filled the bay.
“Here we are in the most beautiful place in the world,” Madonna, 65, told the crowd. Pointing out the ocean view, the mountains and the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city, she added: “This place is magic.”
Madonna performed her classic hits, including “Like A Virgin” and “Hung Up.” For the introduction to “Like A Prayer,” her head was completely covered in a black cape, a rosary gripped in her hands.
The star paid an emotional tribute to “all the bright lights” lost to AIDS as she sang “Live to Tell,” with black and white photos of people who died from the illness flashing behind her.
Later, she was joined on stage by Brazilian artists Anitta and Pabllo Vittar.
Rio spent the last few days readying itself for the performance.
An estimated 1.6 million people attended the show, G1 reported, citing Rio City Hall’s tourism agency. That is more than 10 times Madonna’s record attendance of 130,000 at Paris’ Parc des Sceaux in 1987. Madonna’s official website hyped the show as the biggest ever in her four-decade career.
By midday Saturday, fans crowded in front of the hotel. A white-bearded man carried a sign saying, “Welcome Madonna you are the best I love you.”
Flags with “Madonna” printed against a background of Copacabana’s iconic black and white waved sidewalk pattern hung from balconies. The area was packed with street vendors and concert attendees kitted out in themed T-shirts, sweating under a baking sun.
“Since Madonna arrived here, I’ve been coming every day with this outfit to welcome my idol, my diva, my pop queen,” said Rosemary de Oliveira Bohrer, 69, who sported a gold-colored cone bra and a black cap.
“It’s going to be an unforgettable show here in Copacabana,” said Oliveira Bohrer, a retired civil servant who lives in the area.
Eighteen sound towers were spread along the beach to ensure that all attendees can hear the hits. Her two-hour show started at 10:37 p.m. local time, nearly 50 minutes behind schedule.
City Hall produced a report in April estimating that the concert would vinject 293 million reals ($57 million) into the local economy. Hotel capacity was expected to reach 98% in Copacabana, according to Rio’s hotel association. Fans hailing from across Brazil and even Argentina and France sought out Airbnbs for the weekend, the platform said in a statement. Rio’s international airport had forecast an extra 170 flights during May 1-6, from 27 destinations, City Hall said in a statement.
People watch a rehearsal for Madonna’s Celebration tour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Madonna will conclude her tour on Saturday with a free concert at Copacabana Beach. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
“It’s a unique opportunity to see Madonna, who knows if she’ll ever come back,” said Alessandro Augusto, 53, who flew in from Brazil’s Ceara state — approximately 2,500 kilometers (1,555 miles) from Rio.
“Welcome Queen!” read Heineken ads plastered around the city, the lettering above an image of an upturned bottle cap resembling a crown.
Heineken wasn’t the only company seeking to profit from the excitement. Bars and restaurants prepared “Like a Virgin” cocktails. A shop in the downtown neighborhood famed for selling Carnival attire completely reinvented itself, stocking its shelves with Madonna-themed costumes, fans, fanny packs and even underwear.
Organization of the mega-event was similar to New Year’s Eve, when millions of people gather on Copacabana for its fireworks display, local authorities said. That annual event often produces widespread thefts and muggings, and there was some concern such problems might occur at Madonna’s show.
Madonna rehearses in a mask for her Celebration tour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Madonna, who removed her mask at the end of rehearsal, will conclude her tour on Saturday with a free concert at Copacabana Beach. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado
Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3,200 military personnel and 1,500 civilian police officers on stand by. In the lead-up to the concert, Brazil’s navy inspected vessels that wished to position themselves offshore to follow the show.
Ana Beatriz Soares, a fan who was at Copacabana on Saturday, said Madonna has made her mark across the decades.
“Madonna had to run so that today’s pop artists could walk. That’s why she’s important, because she serves as an inspiration for today’s pop divas,” Soares said.
“And that’s 40 years ago. Not 40 days, 40 months. It’s 40 years,” she said.
AP video journalist Douglas Engle contributed to this report.
Reporting by Janaina Quinet and Renato Syprro in Rio de Janeiro
Lais Moreira in Sao Paulo and Marcela Ayres in Brasilia; Editing by Kevin Liffey
Rio de Janeiro – Police in Brazil said on Sunday that two people have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to detonate explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro.
The Rio event on Saturday was the biggest show of the pop star's career that attracted an estimated 2.5 million fans to Copacabana Beach and had crowds screaming and dancing along.
Felipe Cury, secretary of the Rio police, said authorities believed the suspects sought to target Brazil’s LGBTQ community.
“They were clearly saying that they were planning an attack at Lady Gaga’s concert motivated by sexual orientation,” Cury told a press conference on Sunday.
Rio Police chief Luiz Lima said the group disseminated hate speech and violent content online “aimed at gaining notoriety in order to attract more viewers, more participants – most of them teenagers, many of them children.”
Even as Brazilian authorities said they arrested suspects in the hours before Lady Gaga's show, the event went ahead without disruption – leading some to question the seriousness of the threat. Serious security concerns typically lead organizers to cancel such massive events – as happened with Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna last year.
Police said said nothing about the alleged plot at the time to in an effort to “avoid panic" and “the distortion of information.”
A spokesperson for Lady Gaga said the pop star and her team “learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning. Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks.”
Security was tight at Saturday's concert, with 5,200 military and police officers deployed to the beach where fans were reveling in the pop singer's classic hits like “Born This Way,” which became something of an LGBTQ anthem after its 2011 release.
Authorities arrested two people in connection with the alleged plot – a man described as the group's leader in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul on illegal weapons possession charges, and a teenager in Rio on child pornography charges. Police did not elaborate on their exact roles in the plot or on how the group came to target Lady Gaga’s free concert.
“Those involved were recruiting participants, including teenagers, to carry out integrated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails,” police said.
The Justice Ministry said that it determined the group posed a “risk to public order." It said the group falsely presented themselves online as “Little Monsters” – Lady Gaga’s nickname for her fans – in order to lure teeangers into “networks with violent and self-destructive content.”
During a series of raids on the homes of 15 suspects across several Brazilian states, authorities confiscated phones and other electronic devices. Although police said they believed homemade bombs were intended for use in the planned attack, there was no mention of the raids turning up any weapons or explosive material.
Cury said one of the suspects whose home was raided in the city of Macaé, near Rio, “had a religious motivation" and "claimed the singer (Lady Gaga) was a Satanist.”
‘Historical moment’Lady Gaga has expressed gratitude for the enormous crowd in an Instagram post that said nothing of the alleged plot.
“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,” she wrote. “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 hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”
Her free beach concert stood out at a time of surging ticket prices for live music around the world as concert-goers pay budget-busting costs to see their favorite artists. Last month she performed at Coachella Valley music festival in California, where tickets fetched upwards of $600 for one weekend.
Rio has done this before – last May, superstar Madonna performed the finale to her latest world tower for some 1.6 million fans on the sprawling sands of Copacabana Beach.
Police in Brazil said on Sunday that two people have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to detonate a bomb at a free Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro.
The event, on Saturday, was the biggest show of the pop star's career that drew some 2 million fans to Copacabana Beach.
Rio de Janeiro's state police said they had worked with the Justice Ministry to disrupt an attack allegedly planned by a group that was spreading hate speech against the LGBTQ community. Police said the group sought to radicalize and recruit teenagers to carry out attacks using Molotov cocktails and improvised explosives.
“The plan was treated as a ‘collective challenge’ with the aim of gaining notoriety on social media,” the police said.
Authorities said they arrested two people in connection with the planned attack — the alleged leader of the group on illegal weapons possession charges in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, and a teenager on child pornography charges in Rio.
Authorities said police raided the locations of 15 suspects across several states in Brazil and confiscated phones and other electronic devices.
Lady Gaga’s publicists and concert promoters did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Justice Ministry said members of the group falsely presented themselves online as “Little Monsters” — Lady Gaga's nickname for her fans — in order to reach teenagers and lure them into “networks with violent and self-destructive content.”
Police said they carried out the operation quietly on Saturday “avoiding panic or distortion of information among the population." The ministry said there was no impact on those attending the free concert.
are providing a much-needed boost after a drastic reduction in recent years in the number of flights to Rio while the city grappled with an economic crisis."Music tourism is the darling of the moment in Brazil," Tourism Minister Celso Sabino said
"People are traveling more and more to see concerts and festivals
from hotels to coconut water stalls."Reporting by Gabriel Araujo and Patricia Vilas Boas; Editing by Manuela Andreoni and Rod Nickel
Gabriel is a Sao Paulo, Brazil-based reporter covering Latin America's financial and breaking news from the region's largest economy. A graduate of the University of Sao Paulo, joined Reuters while in college as a Commodities & Energy intern and has been with the firm ever since. Previously covered sports - including soccer and Formula One - for Brazilian radios and websites.
Full Screen1 / 7Previous photoNext photoLady Gaga performs during her free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro
(AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)Fans vitorean mientras ven el concierto gratuito de Lady Gaga en la playa de Copacabana
(Foto AP/Bruna Prado)Fans cheer as they watch Lady Gaga free concert on Copacabana beach
(AP Photo/Bruna Prado)Fans cheer as they watch Lady Gaga free concert on Copacabana beach
(AP Photo/Bruna Prado)Lady Gaga se presenta durante su concierto gratuito en la playa de Copacabana en Ro de Janeiro
(Foto AP/Silvia Izquierdo)Lady Gaga presenta su concierto gratuito en la playa de Copacabana en Ro de Janeiro
(Foto AP/Silvia Izquierdo)Fans vitorean mientras ven el concierto gratuito de Lady Gaga en la playa de Copacabana
(Foto AP/Bruna Prado)Copyright 2025 The Associated Press
Lady Gaga performs during her free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro
RIO DE JANEIRO – Police in Brazil said on Sunday that two people have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to detonate explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro
The Rio event on Saturday was the biggest show of the pop star's career that attracted an estimated 2.5 million fans to Copacabana Beach and had crowds screaming and dancing along
said authorities believed the suspects sought to target Brazil’s LGBTQ community
“They were clearly saying that they were planning an attack at Lady Gaga’s concert motivated by sexual orientation,” Cury told a press conference on Sunday
Rio Police chief Luiz Lima said the group disseminated hate speech and violent content online “aimed at gaining notoriety in order to attract more viewers
more participants — most of them teenagers
Even as Brazilian authorities said they arrested suspects in the hours before Lady Gaga's show, the event went ahead without disruption — leading some to question the seriousness of the threat. Serious security concerns typically lead organizers to cancel such massive events — as happened with Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna last year
Police said said nothing about the alleged plot at the time to in an effort to “avoid panic" and “the distortion of information.”
with 5,200 military and police officers deployed to the beach where fans were reveling in the pop singer's classic hits like “Born This Way,” which became something of an LGBTQ anthem after its 2011 release
Authorities arrested two people in connection with the alleged plot — a man described as the group's leader in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul on illegal weapons possession charges
and a teenager in Rio on child pornography charges
Police did not elaborate on their exact roles in the plot or on how the group came to target Lady Gaga’s free concert
“Those involved were recruiting participants
to carry out integrated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails,” police said
The Justice Ministry said that it determined the group posed a “risk to public order." It said the group falsely presented themselves online as “Little Monsters” — Lady Gaga’s nickname for her fans — in order to lure teeangers into “networks with violent and self-destructive content.”
During a series of raids on the homes of 15 suspects across several Brazilian states
authorities confiscated phones and other electronic devices
Although police said they believed homemade bombs were intended for use in the planned attack
there was no mention of the raids turning up any weapons or explosive material
Cury said one of the suspects whose home was raided in the city of Macaé
“had a religious motivation" and "claimed the singer (Lady Gaga) was a Satanist.”
Lady Gaga has expressed gratitude for the enormous crowd in an Instagram post that said nothing of the alleged plot
“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,” she wrote
“The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away
I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”
Her free beach concert stood out at a time of surging ticket prices for live music around the world as concert-goers pay budget-busting costs to see their favorite artists
Last month she performed at Coachella Valley music festival in California
where tickets fetched upwards of $600 for one weekend
Rio has done this before — last May, superstar Madonna performed the finale to her latest world tower for some 1.6 million fans on the sprawling sands of Copacabana Beach.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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A criminal network promoting hate speech and the radicalization of teenagers planned to attack the Saturday show
a free event that drew more than two million attendees
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Police in Brazil said on Sunday that two people have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to detonate explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro
The Rio event on Saturday was the biggest show of the pop star’s career that attracted more than 2 million fans to Copacabana Beach and had crowds screaming and dancing along
Even as Brazilian authorities said they arrested suspects in the hours before Lady Gaga’s show
the event went ahead without disruption — leading some to question the seriousness of the threat
Serious security concerns typically lead organizers to cancel such massive events — as happened with Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna last year
Police said said nothing about the alleged plot at the time to in an effort to “avoid panic” and “the distortion of information.”
a spokesperson for Lady Gaga said the pop star and her team “learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning
nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks.”
The statement added: “Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place.”
Security was tight at Saturday’s concert
with 5,200 military and police officers deployed to the beach where fans were revelling in the pop singer’s classic hits like “Born This Way,” which became something of an LGBTQ anthem after its 2011 release
Rio de Janeiro’s state police and Brazil’s Justice Ministry presented the bare outlines of a plot that they said involved a group that promoted hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community
and had planned to detonate homemade explosive devices at the event
“The plan was treated as a ‘collective challenge’ with the aim of gaining notoriety on social media,” the police said
disseminated violent content to teenagers online as “a form of belonging.”
Authorities arrested two people in connection with the alleged plot — a man described as the group’s leader in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul on illegal weapons possession charges
Police did not elaborate on their exact roles in the plot or on how the group came to target Lady Gaga’s free concert
“Those involved were recruiting participants
to carry out integrated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails,” police said
The Justice Ministry said that it determined the group posed a “risk to public order.” It said the group falsely presented themselves online as “Little Monsters” — Lady Gaga’s nickname for her fans — in order to reach teenagers and lure them into “networks with violent and self-destructive content.”
The ministry said there was no impact on those attending the open-air concert
“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,” she wrote
“The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away
I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”
Her free beach concert stood out at a time of surging ticket prices for live music around the world as concert-goers pay budget-busting costs to see their favourite artists
superstar Madonna performed the finale to her latest world tower for some 1.6 million fans on the sprawling sands of Copacabana Beach
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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Police in Brazil said on Sunday that two people have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to detonate explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro
The Justice Ministry said that it determined the group posed a “risk to public order." It said the group falsely presented themselves online as “Little Monsters” — Lady Gaga’s nickname for her fans — in order to lure teeangers into “networks with violent and self-destructive content.”
Rio has done this before — last May, superstar Madonna performed the finale to her latest world tower for some 1.6 million fans on the sprawling sands of Copacabana Beach
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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Police in Brazil said on Sunday that two people have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to detonate explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro
The Rio event on Saturday was the biggest show of the pop star's career that attracted an estimated 2.5 million fans to Copacabana Beach and had crowds screaming and dancing along
Watch: Two arrested in plot to attack Lady Gaga concert in Rio:
Even as Brazilian authorities said they arrested suspects in the hours before Lady Gaga's show, the event went ahead without disruption — leading some to question the seriousness of the threat. Serious security concerns typically lead organizers to cancel such massive events — as happened with Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna last year
Her free beach concert stood out at a time of surging ticket prices for live music around the world as concert-goers pay budget-busting costs to see their favorite artists
Rio has done this before — last May, superstar Madonna performed the finale to her latest world tower for some 1.6 million fans on the sprawling sands of Copacabana Beach
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