Baby, baby, baby, no, SZA is not Justin Bieber’s Coachella 2026 backup.
The “Kill Bill” singer, 36, set the record straight over the weekend by debunking a rampant rumor in an Instagram comment.
“LOL, who made this?” SZA asked on Saturday about the blind item in which Bieber, 32, allegedly received a “six figure” payment to keep his schedule clear in case he dropped out of a music festival in Indio, California.
Notably, the “Somebody to Love” singer took to the stage Saturday night and is scheduled to take the stage again on April 18th.
“I saw this four times,” SZA continued, revealing that she was “in New York.”
She claimed, “Nobody paid me a dime. I wish everyone the best of luck.”
Bieber reportedly received $10 million for his headlining set.
Ahead of his minimalist performance, which went viral for its heavy use of YouTube and “SWAG,” sources said Page Six Bieber had “something to prove” with the performance.
“Coachella will be a real indicator of how we move forward,” a source said in March. “There are definitely a lot of benefits to this.”
He added: “Obviously this is a starting point for a potential comeback tour. This is not a one-and-done situation.”
“He’s a talented kid, and people only want him to succeed. It’s always difficult when you want to be a legitimate music artist (once a teen sensation, then). But everyone wants him,” the music insider concluded.
Bieber’s set on Saturday received mixed reviews, with many calling it “lazy” as the Grammy winner sat on a chair while singing part of the performance on YouTube.
However, some claimed that the “mastermind” was reminding fans of how he became famous on the social media platform.
Katy Perry was teased by viewers about this segment of the show, quipping: “Thankfully he’s premium. I hate not seeing ads.”
Bieber hasn’t been vocal about the backlash.
As for SZA, she previously performed at Coachella in 2016 and 2018.
