Kirk Hammett Falls Off Stage in Dublin After Taylor Swift T-Shirt Controversy

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett fell from the stage just days after drawing criticism from Swifties over a T-shirt he wore on tour.

The incident took place during Metallica’s performance of ‘Seek & Destroy’ at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday (June 19), when Hammett appeared to fall after a stage cover gave way beneath him near the edge of the stage.

Footage shared online showed fans helping the guitarist back up, with Hammett quickly recovering and continuing the song. He later joked about the moment on his Instagram Stories, captioning a clip: “Slip & Destroy.”

The fall came after Hammett drew criticism from Taylor Swift fans for wearing a T-shirt reading “Taylor Swift Is A CIA Psyop” during Metallica’s June 13 show at Puskás Aréna in Budapest.

> Kirk Hammett wears t-shirt that says "Taylor Swift is a CIA Psyop," mocking conspiracy theorists during a show in Budapest. This satirical shirt humorously critiques and mocks the absurdity of the real-world conspiracy theories that assert Swift is a government asset. The… — BBQ Chiefs (@BBQChiefs) June 19, 2026

Images of the shirt circulated on social media in the days that followed, prompting backlash from some Swifties online. Hammett has not publicly addressed the reaction to the shirt.

Metallica are currently on  the UK and European leg of their ongoing ‘M72’ world tour . The Dublin show was the first of two nights at Aviva Stadium, with  Pantera and Avatar supporting. The band are due to return to the venue tonight (June 21), with Gojira and Knocked Loose  also on the bill.

The ‘M72’ tour has seen Metallica continue their “No Repeat Weekend” format, with different setlists and support acts across two-night stops. The band will bring the tour to the UK later this month and in July, with shows scheduled in Glasgow, Cardiff and London.

Metallica have also  announced two further US shows for November , with  Suicidal Tendencies and  Spiritbox  set to join them for a pair of dates in Connecticut.  Their residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, meanwhile, will run from October 2026 to March 2027 .

In  a four-star review of Metallica’s ‘M72’ tour opener in Amsterdam ,  NME wrote: “Metallica have always been a gateway band for heavy music, but there’s a renewed excitement around them now. Tonight’s surprising, ambitious and giddy gig matches that energy at every turn.

“[…] From the gorgeous ‘Nothing Else Matters’ through to the unifying ‘Seek & Destroy’, the majesty of heavy music is on full display throughout the gig as Metallica prove why they’re clearly still the greatest metal band around.”

Elsewhere,  Metallica recently teamed up with UK blood services  to urge fans to donate blood and plasma around their upcoming UK tour dates.

The band have also announced ‘Reload (Remastered)’ , a newly expanded reissue of their 1997 album featuring previously unreleased demos, rough mixes, live performances and more, due for release on Friday (June 26).

Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, meanwhile,  recently revealed that he had been declared “free and clear” after a battle with throat cancer .

The post Metallica’s Kirk Hammett falls from stage days after Taylor Swift T-shirt backlash appeared first on NME .

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