Florence Welch reveals ectopic pregnancy on stage led to emergency surgery

Florence Welch has revealed that a life‑threatening ectopic pregnancy during the early stages of a private pregnancy forced an emergency surgery and prompted a string of cancellations in 2023. The Florence & The Machine frontwoman, 39, discussed the ordeal in a candid interview with The Guardian, explaining that she had been pregnant with her partner at the time, but learned the pregnancy could not continue when complications arose.

The singer recalled that the moment she learned of the pregnancy was magical but quickly turned devastating. She told The Guardian that she had been pregnant at 37, a discovery she described as a big shock, particularly because it was her first pregnancy and first miscarriage. She said she had already seen a doctor before a show after experiencing bleeding, and the examination became a crisis when the doctor paused during the assessment. Welch described the scene as a moment of panic, saying she felt a "coke can's worth of blood" in her abdomen and was rushed into surgery within an hour.

Medical experts say that an ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube, and it cannot be viable. If untreated, it can be fatal. Welch’s account aligns with widely cited statistics: in the United Kingdom, roughly 1 in 90 pregnancies are ectopic, with around 11,000 cases diagnosed each year and about 12,000 women affected annually according to NHS data cited in the interview materials. The condition is a recognised medical emergency and the pregnancy is typically removed through medication or surgery.

In 2023, Welch had already canceled a series of performances for health reasons, including a UK tour segment after a foot injury, which she later clarified had not affected her ability to perform when recovered. The cancellations that year also included appearances at Zurich Open Air and Rock en Seine in August, with the band’s final show of the year at Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall on August 13. In her statement at the time, Welch apologized to fans for the cancellations, noting that her feet were fine and explaining that the emergency surgery saved her life. She wrote that she hoped to return to finish the Dance Fever tour in Lisbon and Malaga, perhaps with less vigorous jumping.

The Guardian interview quotes Welch explaining that the experience profoundly affected how she views creativity and coping: "creativity is a way of coping, mythology is a way of making sense." She also referenced the long‑standing idea that art can offer catharsis, describing the episode in terms of a dark fairytale of Dave Fever, a motif she has used in her creative world. Welch’s remarks illuminate how a traumatic medical event intersected with her personal life and career, leading to a rare public disclosure about one of the music industry’s most closely watched performers.

By sharing the ordeal, Welch joins a small but growing list of artists who have discussed health challenges that intersect with their art and touring schedules. Her account underscores the unpredictability of life on the road and the personal costs of balancing public performance with private trauma. As she continues to navigate motherhood and her artistic trajectory, fans and industry observers will watch for how this experience informs her future music and performances.