A Disney On Ice show built around The Little Mermaid took a frightening turn when a high-risk lift went wrong in front of a stunned arena crowd. The two skaters, dressed as Ariel and Prince Eric, were performing to “Part of Your World” when the move suddenly collapsed and both of them ended up on the ice.
The move was the “headbanger”, a demanding lift in which the male skater holds his partner by one ankle and swings her in a fast circle close to the ice. It is nicknamed the “Iron Lotus” after the 2007 film Blades of Glory, and it is banned in competitive figure skating because of how dangerous it is. The pair appeared to struggle through the final moments of the lift before they both went down.
After the fall, the woman was seen holding her head while her partner rushed to check on her. Both skaters eventually got back to their feet, bowed to the audience, and left the rink. Whether either of them was actually hurt was never publicly confirmed.
A spectator’s video of the fall spread widely on TikTok, drawing around 8.7 million views, with viewers torn between fear that the skater had hurt her head and praise for the pair’s composure in standing and bowing after such a frightening moment. The clip also revived debate about whether such risky routines belong in family entertainment. Feld Entertainment, the company behind Disney On Ice, was contacted for comment, and a former Dancing on Ice contestant has previously spoken about the care the move demands.
