Justin Bieber slammed for ‘worst headliner ever’ as $10 million Coachella show leaves crowd cold

Desert lights were bright, crowd was huge, expectations were sky-high. But what was supposed to be glittering comeback for global pop sensation Justin Bieber quickly turned into one of the most talked-about controversies of the weekend.

According to reports, Bieber’s headline slot at the iconic Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival last Saturday left fans confused, disappointed, and in some cases, downright angry. Instead of a grand return filled with energy and spectacle, viewers say they got something far more low-key, and not in a good way.

Advertisement

This performance mattered. It was his first major stage appearance since he paused touring in 2022 after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Fans around the world were rooting for him, hoping for powerful comeback moment.

Stakes were high especially since he reportedly earned around $10 million for headlining the event. But once lights went up, things didn’t go as expected.

A comeback that didn’t feel like one

Instead of flashy choreography, backup dancers, or elaborate visuals, Bieber appeared on stage wearing a hoodie and shorts. He spent much of the performance behind a laptop, triggering music and singing along.

The stripped-down vibe might have worked in an intimate setting, but for a festival of this scale, many viewers felt it looked underprepared.

Social media reactions were quick and brutal. Some fans joked that they didn’t come to watch someone “scroll through videos on a laptop.” Others complained about what they saw as minimal effort.

The biggest shock, however, came from the setlist.

Also Read: Two decades later, Ruby Rose accuses Katy Perry of sexual assault; singer’s camp calls it ‘categorically false’

Fans had hoped for full performances of Bieber’s classic hits. Instead, he only briefly medleyed snippets of beloved tracks like ‘Baby’, ‘Never Say Never’, and ‘Beauty and a Beat’. To make matters more unusual, childhood YouTube clips of Bieber were shown on screen while he sang along.

Many in the audience seemed puzzled rather than nostalgic.

Setlist choices spark debate, and comparisons

While older hits were shortened, Bieber focused heavily on his newer material. Songs like ‘All I Can Take’ and ‘Speed Demon’ received significant attention. He also highlighted tribute tracks dedicated to his wife, including ‘Yukon’ and ‘Go Baby’.

This decision didn’t sit well with many fans who felt the festival audience expected more familiar crowd-pleasers. Posts on social media questioned whether the singer misunderstood what people wanted from a comeback performance.

The criticism intensified when fans compared Bieber’s set to the high-energy show delivered the day before by Sabrina Carpenter. Her performance featured choreography, visuals, and strong stage presence, everything some viewers felt was missing from Bieber’s show.