Miguel has taken his performance art to an excruciating new level after being suspended in the air on stage with metal hooks apparently attached to his skin.
The How Many Drinks? singer previewed new music from his forthcoming album, Viscera, during an intimate show at Sony Studios in Los Angeles, California on Friday.
What seemed to be a normal run-of-the-mill show soon turned into something completely left field as Miguel, 37, performed a new song called Rope.
Onlookers watched with anticipation as the topless musician appeared to have his back pierced by two metal hooks. Video footage shows him slowly being lifted in the air with only the wires to support him as he continues performing the song.
Miguel – full name Miguel Jontel Pimental – sang: ‘I’m hanging on to nothing / I’m hanging from the ceiling / Rope around my neck.’
Fans were left completely stunned by the stunt, which came after Miguel promised the show would be ‘boundary-pushing’, and were unsure of whether it was real or not.
The Sure Thing crooner seemed to prove it was real as he later shared a photo of his back which clearly had several pierced holes and dripping blood from where the metal rods were attached.
‘VISCERA What is your relationship to pain ? What is your relationship to change ?’ Miguel asked his fans in the caption.
However, many weren’t impressed with the stunt and felt the singer had taken it too far.
One critic commented: ‘Um ? Miguel you’ve been so unproblematic plzzz don’t start the weird shi now.’
‘My n***a all you had to do was perform sure thing,’ another quipped, while one added: ‘We just want the R&B music, Miguel.’
Reflecting on Miguel’s musical journey, another shocked follower wondered: ‘How on earth do we transition from Adorn to THIS?’
However, others appreciated Miguel’s artistic expression including one who stated: ‘I defend Miguel because I truly love what he creates. At this performance there were booths to create affirmations for yourself and various other things. I believe in God and the whole experience didn’t feel demonic at all. Research the concept of duality.
‘We have light and darkness in all of us. There is light and darkness in every aspect of life, even in nature. It annoys me that people are telling him to perform is lighter and happier music. Imagine going through difficulties in life and your “fans” expecting you to perform your “happier” music so they can enjoy it.. as soon as an artist does something darker he’s demonic? Maybe he is going through a dark time and expressing himself? More of us should do that. It shouldn’t be uncomfortable to express the not so desirable things in life.’
Another supporter said: ‘Those who say you want old Miguel back, maybe you didn’t really f**k with him to begin with. I appreciate how @miguel always stays true to himself a an artist. And that remains Timeless.
‘Those who want him to sing about love well look, he is. Cause Love is pleasure, pain, birth, death.. and acceptance.
‘And honestly I can relate.’
No doubt Miguel’s new album has been partly inspired by his
The couple were childhood sweethearts and began dating in 2005 before getting engaged in 2016. They tied the knot in 2018 but had announced their separation by late 2021. Fans were relieved when the beloved pair got back together in February 2022 but Nazanin filed for divorce in October that year citing irreconcilable differences.
A release date for Miguel’s new album Viscera is yet to be announced.
