Lady Gaga Denied Performance Permit at SXSW

The City of Austin has denied Lady Gaga a permit to play at this year’s South by Southwest. The singer had been scheduled to perform at the Doritos Stage in downtown Austin, but due to public safety concerns the performance has been canceled.

“Our conclusion was based primarily on public safety concerns,” said Don Pitts, manager of the City of Austin’s Music & Entertainment division. “We look at the size and capacity of the location covered by the permit being sought and how it fits with the anticipated attendance, based on event capacity and promotion. At the end of the day, it’s a parking lot.”

The Doritos-sponsored stage, which is located on the small parking lot of Carmelo’s Italian Restaurant at 504 E. Fifth St., is creatively designed to look like a huge, snack-dispensing machine. Artists such as L.L. Cool J, Ice Cube and Public Enemy have performed the stage in the past, but apparently Gaga is too popular to play in such a small public venue, even if it suits her perfectly.

Gaga could still possibly perform at SXSW. The city “would support relocation to an established venue with the necessary permanent infrastructure.”

South by Southwest kicks off in Austin, TX on March 11.