A humanoid robot’s attempt to dance to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean at a store opening in Shenzhen, China ended in a viral mishap as the robot lost balance and fell, requiring staff to drag it off stage. The incident at the Future Ea Robot Store has sparked widespread amusement and debate on social media.

The robot was performing energetically on stage when it tripped on a platform. It managed to briefly regain balance after the first stumble but then fell again at the same spot. The audience watched in stunned silence as a staff member rushed from backstage to drag the seemingly lifeless robot off the stage by its leg.

Social media users were quick to compare the robot’s performance to that of drunken uncles at wedding parties. Comments ranging from “Robot brother, you’ve had too much to drink, go home” to jokes about a new Michael Jackson movie being terrible flooded the video. However, robotics enthusiasts point out that the robot’s ability to partially recover from its first trip is a significant technical achievement, noting that even professional dancers sometimes fall.

The Future Ea store is the world’s first commercial robot retail center, located in Shenzhen’s technology hub. It primarily sells Unitree’s Jeevan model humanoid robots, which can be rented from 58,000 to 230,000 rupees per day with delivery within 10 days of ordering. The store regularly hosts performances by robotic dogs and humanoid robots to attract customers.

China is increasingly relying on robotics technology to revitalize its industrial sector amid an aging population and economic challenges. However, the growing interaction between robots and humans has also led to safety incidents, including a robot at a school sports meet turning toward children after losing control and another robot accidentally hitting a child’s face while turning.