Circus performer Marylee Whitlock, took the spotlight aboard a cruise ship featuring an X-Pole and opened with a confident shoulder mount. The routine started strong but the humid conditions made the pole slick. As Whitlock inverted, her hips tipped over her head and she lost grip, falling in front of a stunned audience.

Footage of the “dramatic” tumble spread quickly across social media, drawing a mix of reactions. Viewers flooded comment sections with reactions that ranged from concerned to cheeky, including: “I thought her head hit the floor,” and “I’ll stay in my room for the rest of the cruise.”

Whitlock later confirmed she was not seriously injured. She said the risks inherent to her craft: “Pole dancing is inherently dangerous, and I’ve been trained to deal with such situations. No one should attempt it without professional assistance.”