1 month ago
Justin Bieber is facing backlash aft what fans are calling a “lazy” headlining gig astatine Coachella, wherever nan popular star’s group included singing snippets of his top hits disconnected a laptop amid his “groundbreaking” payday.
The 32-year-old singer, who reportedly pocketed $10 cardinal for nan gig, performed successful a casual hoodie, shorts and shades connected Saturday nighttime arsenic he took a stripped-down attack to his much-anticipated performance that near galore group confused.
Instead of delivering a high-energy comeback packed pinch his easy recognizable tracks, nan “Daisies” vocalist played a fistful of songs from his 2025 “SWAG II” medium earlier he turned it complete to his classics.
Bieber sat connected a stool pinch a laptop, scrolling done YouTube videos of his songs and streaming his earlier euphony arsenic portion of a little 12-song medley.
The guidance connected societal media was immediate.
“Not Justin Bieber scammed Coachella retired of $10 cardinal to play songs disconnected of YouTube…” one personification wrote.
Another added, “Justin Bieber giving america 1 of nan laziest performances of each time.”
A 3rd piled on, “If Sabrina Carpenter did what Justin Bieber is doing correct now, her profession would beryllium over.”
The comparison to Carpenter, who headlined nan first nighttime of nan California show pinch a polished, high-production show complete pinch personage cameos, only intensified nan criticism.
Bieber’s set, which kicked disconnected astatine 11:25 p.m. section time, had already been rumored to beryllium delayed owed to godforsaken winds, but he deed nan shape connected time.
The surface besides featured viral clips, including his ain “is it not clocking to you” infinitesimal erstwhile he fought pinch paparazzi, arsenic good arsenic classical memes for illustration “deez nuts” and “double rainbow,” adding to nan chaotic consciousness of nan set.
“Justin Bieber is nan worse(sic) headliner astatine Coachella successful history because wtf your(sic) conscionable sitting pinch a laptop,” one spectator posted.
Another went moreover further: “justin bieber 2026 coachella capacity whitethorn conscionable beryllium nan worst wide streamed/televised performance…ever?”
In an effort to prosecute nan audience, Bieber asked fans to “help maine pinch nan songs tonight,” encouraging them to driblet their favorites into nan livestream comments.
He past pulled from those suggestions successful existent time, further leaning into nan improvised quality of nan show.
One of nan much unexpected moments came erstwhile Bieber dug up his ain past, playing YouTube clips of himself arsenic a kid — including a astir two-decade-old screen of a Ne-Yo opus — which famously helped lead to his find by Usher and Scooter Braun.
Bieber reportedly secured his Coachella woody straight pinch Goldenvoice, earning $5 cardinal per weekend, without nan thief of an agent.
The move followed his divided from longtime head Braun successful 2023 aft astir 15 years.
Bieber is nary alien to Coachella, having antecedently appeared arsenic a astonishment impermanent alongside stars for illustration Ariana Grande, Chance nan Rapper, Daniel Caesar and Tems.
But this marked his first clip topping nan measure — and for galore fans, it didn’t unrecorded up to nan hype.
