While Justin Bieber can give a mediocre performance at Coachella, can a female artist do it? This is the latest controversy that is making waves on social media.
After the “Daisies” singer’s Saturday night set, which was quite stripped down compared to Sabrina Carpenter’s full stage performance the night before, people flooded social media with very candid and conflicting reactions to his concert.
On the one hand, people are criticizing Bieber’s performance, calling him lazy and disappointing, despite reports of his high pay for the gig. They point to the singer’s simple stage design and lack of backup dancers, as well as him sitting down for about 30 minutes in the middle of his set to play snippets of his old classics, like “Baby” and “Never Say Never,” straight from YouTube on his laptop.
Critics are also comparing it to Carpenter’s main show on Friday night, which included numerous set designs, costume changes, and acting from Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon, Will Ferrell, a slew of backup dancers and even the singer climbing out of a car with a water fountain at the end.
One user shared on
“Fans are defending Justin Bieber’s mediocre Coachella performance, saying he’s 32 and naturally doesn’t have the same energy anymore. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga is 36,” another person wrote, sharing a clip of the “Abracadabra” singer’s electric performance at Coachella 2025.
However, while some would have preferred Bieber to deliver a high-budget production, many OG Bieber fans seemed more than happy with his intimate performance. Many took to social media to praise the singer for his nostalgia-filled “Healing” concert.
One person wrote on
They continued: “It takes real courage when fame destroys so many parts of you.” “It’s a quiet reminder that healing isn’t always loud or flashy. Sometimes choosing peace, family, and honest storytelling go beyond what the audience expects. I’m happy for Justin.”
Another user of
People will always make their case, but until a major artist who’s been booked as a headliner at Coachella delivers a performance that’s widely considered lackluster, there’s no way to truly predict what the reception will be like. Either way, there will always be detractors of major festival headliners.
But one thing is certain: the male headliner could still receive widespread backlash. Just look at Frank Ocean’s ill-fated performance on the weekend in 2023 as an example.
