A massive lighting rig and several heavy video panels hanging above the main Freedom 250 stage detached and crashed onto the platform during rehearsal on Thursday, narrowly missing a troupe of dancers. Footage from the scene shows performers halting mid-routine as the structure falls, with debris landing just inches from where they had been moving seconds before.
The incident comes amid wider controversy surrounding the event and the Great American State Fair, which have already faced public criticism and a string of artist withdrawals. This culminated in a wave of high-profile musical acts reportedly backing out after learning of the festival's partisan ties.
