Update!

Criss Angel Hospitalized and Las Vegas Show Halted After Stunt Goes Wrong: "He Stopped Moving"

The Mindfreak Live illusionist was also injured three years ago while performing a similar stunt

By Corinne Heller Mar 11, 2017 11:05 PMTags
Criss AngelBrad Barket/Getty Images

Criss Angel was hospitalized and his Mindfreak Live! show in Las Vegas was cut short Friday after he appeared to lose consciousness in the middle of a dangerous stunt.

Scores of his fans expressed shock and support for the star online.

"During Friday evening's performance, while attempting his famed upside down straitjacket escape while suspended by his feet, he lost consciousness," a rep for the illusionist told E! News Saturday. "He was lowered to the stage and rushed to the hospital where he was evaluated and released early this morning. He is undergoing additional testing today and while it is not yet certain, it is his hope to return to the stage in his hit show Mindfreak Live! at Luxor Las Vegas tonight. He is grateful for the outpouring of love and concern from his fans around the world."

The rep also said that "Due to Friday's events, Criss and his son Johnny Crisstopher were unable to attend a previously scheduled appearance at a fundraiser for Make‐A‐Wish of Southern Nevada Saturday morning. In his absence, a representative of HELP, the non‐profit Criss created to find a cure for pediatric cancer, presented Make‐A‐Wish with a $100,000 donation."

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Chris Angel passed out 2 min into the show ??

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Witnesses had described the incident on social media.

"10 mins into the show, Criss Angel was doing his upside down straitjacket stunt and was almost out after spinning for 2 mins and then they let him down," Peter Sehl wrote on Facebook. "He stopped moving, curtain down. Break for 15 mins. Now show cancelled. Hope he is ok!! Didn't appreciated peoples comments as they were leaving." 

"Went to a @CrissAngel show and I think he almost died," one user wrote on Twitter. "They had to cancel the show after like 15 mins. hope he's cool though."

"At the Criss Angel Show. Something went wrong when he tried to escape from a jacket while suspended," Ryan Perez tweeted. "Show has been cancelled."

He said that after customers complained, full refunds were issued.

In 2013, Angel severely injured his shoulder and bicep while performing a similar stunt in Times Square in New York City. His Cirque du Soleil show "Believe" at the Luxor was halted temporarily for months while he recovered.

(Originally published at 11:23 a.m. PT)