Earlier this month, pop star Lorde teased the release of her first album in four years by posting a TikTok video of herself strolling through what appeared to be Washington Square Park, accompanied by a snippet of her new track, “What Was That.”
Then on Tuesday, she sent out an email and text alert to fans with a simple message: “Meet me in the park. Tonight 7 p.m.” No location was mentioned—but she didn’t need to spell it out.
By 6 p.m., hundreds of fans, mostly young, had flocked to Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. The energy was high: Lorde’s music echoed throughout the area, people lit up joints, and some even climbed trees to secure a better view—though no show had been officially announced.
As 7 p.m. approached, rumors began to circulate that the NYPD had shut the event down. Still, many refused to leave, hoping the rumors weren’t true.
“It felt like this was the beginning of summer,” one fan said. “If she didn’t show up, it’s like summer wouldn’t really begin.”
Unfortunately, summer would have to wait.
Just before 7 p.m., Lorde confirmed the cancellation via Instagram Stories.
“Omg @thepark the cops are shutting us down,” she wrote. “I’m truly amazed by how many of you came!!! But they’re saying you gotta disperse… I’m so sorry.”
A spokesperson for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department later confirmed that the concert was blocked due to a lack of permits.
Working in coordination with the NYPD and the Mayor’s Office of Citywide Special Events, the city moved to safely shut down the unauthorized gathering.
“A sound and parks permit is required to hold a concert in a NYC park,” said an NYPD spokesperson. “This individual had neither.”
Lorde’s representatives declined to comment.
The spontaneous scene echoed a similar moment in August 2023, when influencer Kai Cenat drew thousands to Union Square. That event turned chaotic when police intervened, ultimately leading to Cenat being charged with inciting a riot—charges later dropped after he issued a public apology and covered damages.
In contrast, Lorde’s crowd remained largely peaceful, with many staying in the park long after being asked to leave—some holding out hope for a surprise appearance, others simply enjoying the spring evening.
“I’m just waiting it out,” said Alexa Hamilton, 26, who came straight from work in SoHo. “I don’t have anywhere to be right now, so I’m just hanging around until it clears a bit.”
With Lorde’s music still playing, the non-concert evolved into an impromptu dance party. By 8 p.m., when it became clear the crowd wasn’t dispersing, a small group of officers entered the park, greeted by boos. Soon after, the speaker was cut mid-song—right in the middle of “Royals,” the Grammy-winning hit that catapulted Lorde to fame in 2013.
“God forbid a girl have fun,” someone muttered in the crowd.
Moments later, the music resumed, defying the police. Officers moved toward the speaker, prompting someone to pick it up and leave the park, followed by a stream of fans.
As the crowd spilled into the surrounding streets, the music and party vibe continued.
Then came the surprise: around 8:30 p.m., video from social media showed Lorde reappearing in the park. She climbed onto a small platform and danced freely as “What Was That” blasted from a speaker.
Fans erupted with cheers, phones raised, singing and dancing along in celebration of an unexpected moment of joy.