text: Ellie Goulding Recovering After On-Stage Pyro Accident
  Ellie Goulding was hit in the face by a firework last weekend in the middle of a performance. The 36-year-old singer took to Instagram Stories Wednesday (August 30) to update fans on her condition following the Victorious Festival in Portsmouth, UK, last weekend. While performing her Calvin Harris collaborative hit “Miracle,” a pyrotechnic blasted up from the stage to her face. In a video that has been shared online, Goulding can be heard yelling, “Ah! F—!” and flipping her head down briefly before immediately continuing on with her set.
  “To those asking I am ok! Pyro didn’t hit me directly in the face. Face is intact. Love you thank you x,” Goulding wrote, adding a firework emoji. Making light of the situation, she also took to Twitter/X to post a meme with the caption: “*sees Ellie Goulding trending* *closes app.*” Goulding is set to go on her Higher Than Heaven tour later this year, kicking off in Dublin on October 16 before wrapping on November 7 in Berlin. Higher Than Heaven is the fifth studio album by the English singer-songwriter, released this past April.
  Finally! 🥲 The Higher Than Heaven tour is happening AND we're going to be visiting even more places! Pre-order any format of #HTH from my official store before Mon 3rd Apr @ 5pm BST to get access to the pre-sale. https://t.co/rziltKPkXW pic.twitter.com/llvl11cX3H
  — Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) March 30, 2023
  The Grammy nominee is not the first artist to suffer a pyrotechnics accident during an onstage performance. In 2015, 5 Seconds of Summer’s lead guitarist, Michael Clifford, suffered facial burns after his hair caught fire when he accidentally walked into a pyrotechnics display. He later posted a photo in which one side of his face was seen covered with bandages, writing “What the f—s up. sorry I couldnt finish the encore, but at least I look like two face. thanks for worrying every1 x.” A day later, Clifford performed with the band. However, Spanish pop star Joana Sainz García died following an onstage pyrotechnics malfunction in 2019. Decades ago in 1992, Metallica frontman James Hetfield suffered second-degree burns from an on-stage pyro accident.
  What the fucks up. sorry I couldnt finish the encore, but at least I look like two face. thanks for worrying every1 x pic.twitter.com/wXh9eYUsbV
  — michael clifford (@Michael5SOS) June 13, 2015