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The video, posted on X by the account Tatum Turn Up on Wednesday and viewed more than 5 million times, showed the robot performing at an event organized by robot store Future Era in Shenzhen, southern China, according to the Daily Mail.
As Michael Jackson’s 1983 hit "Billie Jean" played, the robot walked confidently across the stage and began dancing in front of a crowd and camera crew.
The performance initially appeared smooth, with the robot executing coordinated footwork. Trouble began when it stepped onto a large stage platform and lost balance.
Although the robot managed to stand up and continue, its movements soon became unstable and jerky. Moments later, it stumbled again, collapsed to the ground and could not recover, forcing staff to drag it off the stage.
The clip quickly drew mockery, jokes and sympathy online. One commenter compared the robot to a "drunk uncle having a dance at a wedding reception," while another wrote: "Wow, the new Michael Jackson movie looks terrible."
Unitree humanoid robot performs to Michael Jackson’s "Billie Jean." Video from X
Others focused on the staff member who removed the robot from the stage. "The guy dragging it off could at least have done so while dancing. Make it look like part of the act," one commenter wrote.
Some viewers defended the performance and highlighted the technical progress behind the robot’s movements. "Everyone laughing at the robot and failing to appreciate what a technical achievement it is that it stayed upright the first time it trips on the steps the first time round," another commenter said.
Tech site Futurism said humanoid robots are becoming increasingly capable of performing complex movements in controlled demonstrations, but unexpected situations still reveal how limited the technology remains. It added that while acrobatic tricks and dance performances attract attention online, humanoid robots will only become truly useful when they can reliably handle everyday tasks in unpredictable environments.
The incident follows several other humanoid robot mishaps reported in recent months.
In March, a robot was removed from a restaurant in California after losing control during a dance performance and smashing dishes.
Last year, another robot made by Unitree Robotics lunged toward a crowd during a festival after suddenly surging forward and colliding with an elderly woman behind a safety barrier.
