Is it too late to say sorry?
Justin Bieber is facing backlash after fans called his Coachella headlining gig “lazy.” The pop star’s set included singing some of his biggest hits from his laptop, despite the “groundbreaking” payday.
The 32-year-old singer, who reportedly pocketed $10 million for the gig, performed Saturday night in a casual hoodie, shorts and shades, leaving many confused as he took a pared-back approach to the much-anticipated performance.
Instead of delivering a high-energy comeback packed with instantly recognizable songs, the “Daisies” singer performed a few songs from her 2025 albums “SWAG” and “SWAG II” before switching to classical tunes.
Bieber sat down with his laptop and scrolled through YouTube videos of his songs, streaming early music as part of a short 12-song medley.
The reaction on social media was immediate.
“Justin Bieber didn’t scam Coachella out of $10 million to play his songs from YouTube…” one person wrote.
“Justin Bieber gave the laziest performance ever,” another added.
A third continued: “If Sabrina Carpenter did what Justin Bieber does now, her career would be over.”
Comparisons with Carpenter, who headlined the opening night of the California festival with a slick, highly staged show that included celebrity cameos, added to the criticism.
Bieber’s set, which kicked off at 11:25 p.m. local time, was already rumored to be delayed due to desert winds, but he took to the stage on time.
The screens also displayed viral clips such as his own “Don’t watch it” moment where he clashed with the paparazzi and classic memes like “Dees Nuts” and “Double Rainbow,” further adding to the chaotic atmosphere on set.
One viewer posted: “Justin Bieber is the worst headliner ever at Coachella because he’s just sitting there with his laptop.”
Another goes even further: “Justin Bieber’s 2026 Coachella performance could be the worst mass-streamed/televised performance ever…?”
Some defended Bieber, noting that the use of YouTube was “a bit symbolic” because “Justin became famous” through YouTube.
One X user called him the “mastermind” behind the “karaoke-style” show, but admitted that “some people won’t understand.”
In an attempt to attract viewers, Bieber asked fans to “help me with tonight’s song” and encouraged them to post their favorite songs in the comments of the livestream.
He then drew on those suggestions in real time, leaning further into the improvisational nature of the show.
One of the more unexpected moments came when Bieber dug into his past and played YouTube clips of himself as a child, including a cover of a Ne-Yo song from nearly 20 years ago. This famously led to the discovery by Usher and Scooter Braun.
Bieber reportedly signed a Coachella deal directly with Golden Voice, earning him $5 million over the weekend without the help of an agent.
The move comes after Brown parted ways with longtime manager Brown in 2023 after about 15 years.
Bieber is no stranger to Coachella, having previously appeared as a surprise guest alongside stars such as Ariana Grande, Chance the Rapper, Daniel Caesar and Thames.
However, this was his first high and for many fans, it didn’t live up to the hype.
