Lorde’s planned appearance at a park in New York Tuesday had to be cancelled after police told thousands of fans to disperse.
The New Zealand singer – real name Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor – had teased her appearance by posting an Instagram story showing Washington Square Park along with the caption: “Tonight 7pm.”
However, shortly before the allotted time she posted another message to her Instagram stories that read: “OMG @thepark the cops are shutting us down. I am truly Amazed by how many of you showed up!!!
“But they’re telling me you gotta disperse … I’m so sorry.”
The Independent has approached Lorde’s representatives for comments.
Social media footage showed thousands of fans awaiting her appearance, which was presumably intended to preview single “What Was That,” her first song from a new studio album in four years.
The 28-year-old has historically dropped new records in four-year intervals; she released her debut album, Pure Heroine, in 2013, Melodrama in 2017, and the critically divisive Solar Power in 2021.
“What Was That” is set to be released this Friday, April 25. It will feature on her as-yet-untitled fourth album, which will arrive later this year.
On April 11, Lorde sent her fans into meltdown by sharing a snippet of the song on social media.
The song, in the singer’s favored synth-pop style, features the lyrics: “Since I was 17/ I gave you everything/ Now we wake from a dream/ Well baby, what was that?”
At the time, fans rushed to the TikTok comment section to celebrate Lorde’s return. “SHE HAS RISEN AND IT’S NOT EVEN EASTER,” one person wrote. “SECOND COMING OF CHRIST,” added another.
Meanwhile another person claimed: “Brat summer walked so Lorde summer could run,” in reference to Charli XCX’s latest album, on which Lorde featured.
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Over on X, fans continued to crack jokes in celebration of the singer’s comeback.
“Lorde returning during the month of Easter… welcome back prettier Jesus,” one person wrote in reference to the singer’s “Solar Power” lyrics: “I’m kinda like a prettier Jesus.”
“Jesus teases resurrection via new testament,” another joked after the singer deleted all her posts across social media and archived her website ahead of the potential album announcement.
“Oh Lorde have mercy,” another fan said. “She is here to save pop music.”
Last September, Lorde left fans concerned after she wiped her social media accounts before sharing a photo of herself with a black eye.
The singer has been teasing a new album since 2023. In March last year, she returned to the music scene with her cover of Talking Heads’ 1978 hit “Take Me to the River.”
Most recently, she performed with New Zealand singer Marlon Williams on his Māori language album Te Whare Tīwekaweka on the song “Kāhore He Manu E”, which was released last week.
