Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 26, 2025 · Entertainment

Lorde's Music Video Hit Pause: NYPD Shuts Down NYC Park Shoot

Singer Lorde, 28, said that authorities in New York City had to shut down a recent music video shoot she was working on due to crowd control concerns

LOVE IS IN THE AIR, BUT POLICE AREN'T HAVING IT!

In a shocking turn of events that left fans gasping for air, Lorde's highly-anticipated music video shoot was abruptly shut down by authorities in New York City due to "unmanageable" crowd control concerns. The Kiwi pop sensation, 28, dished out the juicy details on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, revealing just how chaotic things got when thousands of devoted followers showed up to catch a glimpse of their beloved songstress.

As Lorde promoted her upcoming album Virgin on the popular CBS late-night program, she regaled Colbert with a dramatic retelling of the events that unfolded in Washington Square Park, located in the heart of Greenwich Village. "It was like a scene from a movie!" Lorde exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement and just a hint of mischief.

She explained in detail the series of events that led to the filming of her video for What Was That? in Washington Square Park being scuttled, as too many fans showed up

The trouble started when an estimated 10,000 fans descended upon the iconic park, eager to get a glimpse of Lorde as she filmed the music video for her latest single, What Was That?. The authorities were left scrambling to contain the situation, deploying the antiterrorism unit and threatening to arrest anyone who failed to disperse.

"I was told if I stepped foot on the premises, I'd be arrested for riot incitement!" Lorde revealed, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. "I mean, it was like they thought we were planning some kind of musical coup!"

The Royals singer went on to explain that she was forced to wait out the chaos for several hours before being given the green light to return and complete filming. And when she did, it was all or nothing – Lorde had just one shot at getting the footage right.

Fans flooded the Big Apple landmark as word spread that the Grammy-winning songstress was working on a new music video

"We were launching my first single from the album, but we were also shooting the music video, which would drop 24 hours later," she explained. "There was an edit that had to be gotten to very quickly, and a lot of dominoes had to fall into place for this to work."

In the end, Lorde's fans proved to be as fierce as they are dedicated, with the singer herself praising their enthusiasm in a series of Instagram posts. As she thanked her loyal followers for their unwavering support, it was clear that love is indeed in the air – but maybe not quite enough to get past those stern-faced NYPD officers!

THE POLICE HAVE THE LAST WORD

The New Zealand-born artist appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday to promote her upcoming album Virgin, which goes on sale Friday

In a statement released to The Scholarly Note (formerly Daily Mail), the New York City Police Department shed some light on the events surrounding Lorde's video shoot. According to the authorities, organizers of the event were informed that they did not possess the necessary sound and parks permit required for a concert in a NYC park.

"Organizers of the event were told they could not perform, and they left the location," the NYPD said in a statement. "The incident highlights the importance of obtaining proper permits and following city regulations to ensure public safety."

While Lorde's music video may have been shut down, her fans are still buzzing with excitement over the upcoming release of Virgin. Will the album be worth the wait? Only time (and Lorde herself) will tell!