It’s not every day that a rock star’s tour reads like a comic book origin story, but Taylor Momsen’s recent stint with AC/DC in Mexico City certainly fits the bill. The Pretty Reckless frontwoman and former "Gossip Girl" star found herself in a literal fight for her health after a venomous spider bite landed her in the hospital—only to see her back on stage less than 24 hours later, determined not to let fans down.
According to NBC Chicago, the ordeal unfolded in early April 2026, as The Pretty Reckless opened for AC/DC on their #PowerUpTour. Momsen’s troubles began shortly after the band’s first show in Mexico City, when she awoke to discover a spider bite on her right ankle. The singer chronicled the incident on Instagram, posting a video on April 8 of a doctor bandaging her ankle and administering a shot. With characteristic humor, she quipped to the camera, “When do my superpowers kick in? That’s what I want to know.”
But the situation quickly turned serious. As reported by Billboard, the bite’s venom triggered a rash that spread from her ankle up to her knee, prompting her to seek urgent medical attention. On April 14, Momsen posted a photo of her leg, the rash now a blotchy red patch creeping up her shin, with the caption: “Hospital today, show tomorrow, poisonous spiders are NO BUENO but the show must go on, see you tomorrow Mexico City.”
Despite her brave face, the severity of the bite forced Momsen to spend the night in the emergency room. She later shared a photo from her hospital bed, mask on and ice pack pressed to her forehead, thanking the “amazing doctors who, well, they know.” By all accounts, the rash was severe enough for doctors to outline its borders with a blue marker to monitor any further spreading—a precaution that underscores just how dangerous the bite had become.
Momsen’s fans followed her journey closely on social media, where she provided updates and reassurances. In a playful video promoting her latest single “When I Wake Up,” she and a friend joked, “When I wake up… with spiders in my bed. When I wake up with spiders all over my body.” She ended the video on a positive note, telling viewers, “I’m doing fine.”
Yet, as People magazine noted, things got worse before they got better. The day after her hospital stay, Momsen was determined to keep her commitment to fans, returning to the stage for The Pretty Reckless’s final Mexico City show with AC/DC. In a heartfelt post-show update, she wrote, “After spending the night in the ER, the great doctors of Mexico made it so I could see all you amazing people tonight, I’ll update you on my health another day, tonight was for all of you, Mexico you were amazing, thank you for so much love, we love you and will return.”
The identity of the spider remains a mystery, but both Brown Recluse and Black Widow spiders are native to Mexico City and are known to cause rapidly spreading rashes and other severe symptoms. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Brown Recluse bites can result in redness, swelling, and even necrosis if left untreated. While Momsen’s case did not escalate to that level, the incident was serious enough to warrant overnight hospitalization and close medical supervision.
This isn’t the first time Momsen has had a close encounter with the animal kingdom while on tour. Two years ago, in 2024, she was bitten by a bat during an AC/DC show in Seville, Spain. As she recounted on Instagram at the time, “So…ROCK AND ROLL MOMENT…in Sevilla Wednesday during ‘Witches Burn’ of all songs… a BAT flew onto me and clung to my leg… in the moment I was performing and had no idea until the incredible crowd kept screaming and pointing… he was cute, but yes he bit me… so rabies shots for the next two weeks.” The bat bite not only required a series of painful rabies shots but also became an iconic moment among fans, who dubbed her “Batgirl”—a moniker she embraced by creating an Instagram highlight dedicated to the incident.
“Spider woman? Batgirl? WTF,” Momsen joked in a recent post, referencing her uncanny luck with animal bites while touring with AC/DC. The tongue-in-cheek humor belies a real resilience; despite the pain and risk, she has consistently chosen to perform for her fans, seeking treatment only after fulfilling her stage commitments.
The Pretty Reckless’s relationship with AC/DC is, as some fans have put it, “long and tumultuous.” Yet, it’s also a testament to Momsen’s rock-and-roll spirit. She’s played through injuries, shrugged off rabies shots, and now, has faced down a venomous spider bite, all without cancelling a single show. One fan summed it up best in a comment: “Absolute legend behavior.”
As Entertainment Weekly reported, Momsen’s resilience has only endeared her more to fans. Messages of support flooded her social media accounts, with many urging her to return to Mexico soon. The Pretty Reckless’s tour is set to continue through early December, with upcoming stops in Nuremberg, Germany, and a return to the United States, where the band will perform in cities including Madison, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame, Indiana.
For those wondering about the risks of spider bites, the Illinois Department of Health notes that while most bites are harmless, some—like those from the Brown Recluse—can cause significant complications, including fever, nausea, and, in rare cases, necrosis. Early intervention is crucial, and Momsen’s quick response, coupled with expert medical care, likely prevented more serious consequences.
Through it all, Momsen’s approach has been equal parts humor and grit. Her social media posts—complete with Spider-Man theme music and playful references to superhero transformations—have kept spirits high, even as she navigated a genuine health scare. “Add it to the list!” she wrote, embracing the chaos that seems to follow her on the road.
For Taylor Momsen and The Pretty Reckless, the show does indeed go on. Her recent ordeal has only reinforced her reputation as a performer who’s as tough as she is talented—no matter what creatures cross her path.