Lady Gaga has broken her silence after police thwarted plans for a bomb attack at her Rio de Janeiro concert.
According to official data, 2.1 million people attended the American pop icon’s free show at the Brazilian city on Saturday, May 2.
The Paparazzi singer, 39, posted a message gushing about the concert in a post shared to her Instagram account on Sunday morning, however didn’t say anything about the bomb threat.
Her rep told TMZ she wasn’t aware of the thwarted plot until hearing about it in the news on Sunday morning. Her rep claimed police did not notify them of any possible risks prior to the show going on.
Gaga’s team noted they did collaborate with law enforcement while planning and pulling off the concert and also had confidence in the safety measures being implemented.
‘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,’ her post began.
Lady Gaga has broken her silence after a bomb threat at her concert in Rio de Janeiro was foiled by police on Saturday, May 2
Lady Gaga has broken her silence after the bomb threat at her her concert in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, May 2
She posted photos from her concert and a shot of the historic crowd alongside her heartfelt joy at being able to play 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 hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you,’ she gushed.
Lady Gaga then went on to express her gratitude for having the biggest concert crowd of any woman to date.
‘An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing, the biggest crowd for any woman in history.
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‘I wish I could share this feeling with the whole world—I know I can’t, but I can say this—if you lose your way, you can find your way back if you believe in yourself and work hard.’
She continued: ‘You can give yourself dignity by rehearsing your passion and your craft, pushing yourself to new heights— you can lift yourself up even if it takes some time.
The Oscar winner then thanked the crowd on Copacabana beach for showing up.
‘Thank you Rio for waiting for me to come back. Thank you little monsters all over the world. I love you.
‘I will never forget this moment. Paws up little monsters. Obrigada. Love, Mother Monster.’
Local police said the plot was orchestrated by a group promoting hate speech and the radicalization of teenagers, including self-harm and violent content as a form of ‘social belonging.’
The Paparazzi singer, 39, broke her silence on Sunday morning but didn’t address the bomb threat. Her rep told TMZ she wasn’t aware of the thwarted plot until hearing about it in the news on Sunday morning
‘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,’ her post began
According to official data, 2.1 million people attended the American pop icon’s free show (pictured)
She posted photos from her concert and a shot of the historic crowd alongside her heartfelt joy at being able to play for the people of Brazil
‘The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails,’ the police said in a statement.
The Justice Ministry said the recruiters identified themselves as members of Gaga’s global fan base, 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 of 15 suspects across the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo.
‘The plan was treated as a “collective challenge” with the aim of gaining notoriety on social media,’ police said.
DailyMail.com contacted the singer’s team for comment.
The Poker Face singer’s concert was paid for by the city in an attempt to revitalize Rio’s economy as it is estimated it could bring in nearly $100 million.
‘An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing, the biggest crowd for any woman in history
‘Tonight, we’re making history. Thank you for making history with me,’ Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd.
The Mother Monster, as she is known, kicked off the show at around 10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary.
Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand.
Lady Gaga performed her classic hits, including Poker Face and Alejandro, switching between an array of dresses including one with the colors of the Brazilian flag.
Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot, armed with snacks and drinks.