Justin Bieber’s recent Coachella performance did not seem to click with some people’s taste after his set was described as “lazy” and “mediocre” despite reports that he was among the festival’s highest-paid performers.
The Canadian pop star headlined this year’s Coachella alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G, delivering a performance that leaned heavily on both his latest releases and his early career hits.
Wearing a casual hoodie, shorts,and sunglasses, Bieber opened his set with tracks from his recent studio albums “SWAG” and “SWAG II.”
He later shifted the mood with a heartfelt performance of “Everything Hallelujah,” during which he gave a shoutout to his wife, Hailey Bieber and their son Jack Blues. Hailey was spotted in the crowd alongside Kylie Jenner and her boyfriend Timothée Chalamet.
What later broke the internet was the major highlight of Justin’s set when he performed a medley of his biggest hits, including “Baby,” “Favorite Girl,” “That Should Be Me,” “Beauty and a Beat,” “Never Say Never,” “Confident” and “Sorry,” sending longtime fans into a frenzy.
But while his loyal fans rejoiced at the nostalgia brought by his music, his performance also sparked debate online due to Bieber’s “unconventional” staging.
Justin turned to his classics through a laptop he used while onstage to play his old music videos via a YouTube window, singing along karaoke-style as if duetting with his younger self. He also incorporated clips of his viral moments and internet memes throughout the set.
Some critics described the performance as underwhelming, with users calling it the “worst” in Coachella history, especially when compared to other performers’ elaborate productions.
He was also lambasted for “doing the bare minimum despite reportedly being the highest paid performer at the event. According American news outlets, Bieber allegedley scored a multi-million dollar deal amounting to $ 10 million dollars to headline at the music festival.
“Justin Bieber really gave us the worst performance in Coachella and Grammy history in the same year,” an X post with over 10,000 likes read.
It can be recalled that Justin also gained attention from his viral performance last February where he only wore gym shorts and socks at the Grammy Awards stage.
“Justin Bieber is the definition of mediocrity: an artist who relies on nostalgia and YouTube videos to survive on stage, unable to deliver energy, creativity, or a real connection with the audience,” one X user reacted.
Criticisms were also intensified by reports saying Bieber allegedly earned around $10 million to headline Coachella, and accusing Bieber of “doing the bare minimum” despite being the highest-paid performer at the event.
“You’re telling me Justin Bieber is the highest-paid artist at Coachella, and this is what he delivers? Male artists really do get away with anything when it comes to performances — and more,” a netizen wrote on X.
Others, however, defended the pop star’s approach, interpreting it as a reflective and intimate statement, considering Bieber’s music career took off from YouTube.
“What a badass thing Justin Bieber is doing at Coachella: not only does he reclaim his own story after everything that happened as a child star, but he also reminds us that the culture of YouTube music was forged around him,” one user wrote on X.
Another netizen shared, “I don’t think what Justin Bieber did was bad at all, and I’m not even a fan. The YouTube videos thing was a short segment creating an intimate moment and referencing the fact of having been the first superstar to come out of the internet, and then the rest of the show was different. To me, it’s obvious what he wanted to convey, and the vocal talent backed it up.”
A third added, “Everything I’m seeing about Justin Bieber yesterday at Coachella is living proof that sometimes LESS is MORE. The dude just grabbed his laptop to sing the songs everyone wanted, and that’s in a nutshell what the crowd wants and expects, at least when they pay to go see their favorite artist.”
Despite the mixed reception, Justin Bieber’s Coachella appearance continues to gain traction online, with his performance video on the festival’s official Instagram page ranking among the most viewed on the platform.
Meanwhile, fellow headliner Sabrina Carpenter also faced backlash during the festival after making remarks about yodeling culture, which some found offensive. The singer has since issued an apology.
