Humanoid robot dancing to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean falls mid-performance in China, dragged off stage | Play video | Today’s news
Weeks after a 70-pound humanoid robot delayed a Southwest Airlines flight in California, a new video of another humanoid robot has gone viral, and for good reason.
According to the Daily Mail, the video shows a humanoid robot suffering from mid-performance disorder as it dances to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” at the Future Era robot shop in Shenzhen, China. The clip is now widely circulating online.
Read also | Humanoid robot Bebop, traveling for work, caused a delay on a Southwest flight
A clumsy robot performed in front of a watching audience. As soon as Jackson’s “Billie Jean” was played, the humanoid dancer began to energetically shuffle across the stage before tripping over a step. However, after struggling to regain his balance, the robot managed to make a few more moves before crashing into the same spot.
A human assistant then emerged from the wings to drag the lifeless body off the stage as the audience watched in complete silence.
Social networks react to the failed attempt of a humanoid robot
After the video went viral, several social media users mocked the humanoid robot, with some even comparing it to a drunken uncle dancing at a wedding reception.
One user on X wrote: “No crowd reaction, nothing. Just ‘Billie Jean’. Until his inanimate shell is shamefully dragged away. Purely awesome.”
Another wrote: “Go home robot, you’re drunk.” A third user wrote: “Wow, the new Michael Jackson movie looks terrible.”
Humanoid robots are common in China
In the video, a robot and a human assistant can be seen wearing T-shirts with the slogan “Future Era”, the name of a store in the southern Chinese technology hub of Shenzhen, home to tech giants such as Tencent, Huawei and DJI.
The development comes as humanoid robots become commonplace in China, appearing everywhere from promotions for new shops and restaurants to school sports days.
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In 2025, the Future Era store opened as the world’s first commercial robot store, with humanoid robots such as the Unitree G1 seen dancing on stage. To attract customers, the store also often hosts robot showcases with humanoid assistants and robot dogs.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the store’s robots can be rented from RMB 5,000 ($700) to RMB 20,000 ($2,800) per day.
Once customers order a humanoid, they can receive their robot in less than 10 days and can even opt for custom modifications made to suit their needs.
Amid an aging population and slow economic growth after decades of expansion, humanoid robots are becoming a key pillar of Beijing’s industrial strategy.
The number of malfunctioning robots is increasing
However, as robots become more and more integrated into the human environment, there have already been several reported incidents involving malfunctioning or uncontrolled machines.
At a sports day in northwestern China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, a robot performing a martial arts routine was filmed losing its balance and collapsing as children ran onto the playground to join it. The bot appeared to throw kung fu style kicks, causing the performers nearby to step back cautiously.
In a separate incident, footage from a performance in Shaanxi province on Saturday, March 21, shows a Unitree robot punching a young boy in the face. During his routine, the robot moved towards the audience with sweeping arm movements and accidentally hit a child when he turned during a spin.
Read also | A robot beats human professionals in table tennis. Its manufacturer calls it a milestone for machines
Humanoid robot causes hour-long American flight delay
In a separate incident in the US, a 70-kilogram humanoid robot named Bebop caused a Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland, California to San Diego to be delayed for more than an hour on April 30.
The robot, which was said to be traveling for work, caught the attention of the crew and raised questions before departing.
Dallas-based team Elite Event Robotics purchased a separate seat for the robot after it was determined that its shipping case was too heavy for checked baggage. Bebop briefly entertained passengers before boarding, although concerns were raised once he was secured in his seat.
In a video shared on the company’s Instagram account, the 4-foot-tall, 70-pound humanoid robot can be seen moving its arms back and forth in front of a crowd of onlookers.
Key things
- Humanoid robots are increasingly integrated into entertainment and promotional events.
- Disorders can lead to unexpected and funny situations that affect public perception.
- The rise of humanoid robots reflects broader trends in technology and responses to demographic challenges.
