Justin Bieber's Coachella Comeback Criticised as 'Worst in Festival History'
The highly anticipated stage return of Justin Bieber at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on Saturday was met with widespread disappointment from fans, who branded his headline slot "the worst in the festival's history." The 32-year-old singer, reportedly paid a staggering $10 million for the appearance, underwhelmed audiences with a set that largely consisted of him singing along to tracks played from a laptop, while dressed casually in just a hoodie and shorts.
Fans Express Fury Over Lacklustre Production
Social media erupted with criticism as viewers and attendees lamented the absence of a polished production, contrasting it sharply with previous headliners like Sabrina Carpenter. Many questioned the justification for such an eye-watering fee given the minimalist performance. One fan wrote, "Justin Bieber did the impossible - he managed to dethrone Katseye with the worst Coachella performance of all time," while another added, "Why is Justin Bieber asking the stream to pick a song for him? This is so messy and sloppy."
Further complaints highlighted the boredom evident in the crowd, with comments noting, "Justin Bieber got paid 10 mil for this boring ass performance. Everyone is bored," and "I've never seen a bored crowd with a headliner before." The set, which started at 11:25pm amid rumours of delays from high desert winds, focused heavily on Bieber's lesser-known recent songs, with older hits only featured in brief snippets sung alongside YouTube clips.
Mixed Reactions and Defences from Supporters
Despite the backlash, some defenders praised Bieber's relaxed demeanour and personal tribute to his career. Supporters commented, "I feel like Justin Bieber is healing his inner child with this Coachella performance right now and it's genuinely beautiful to see," and "Justin Bieber is paying himself a tremendous tribute at #Coachella." These fans appreciated his emotional connection to past work, including moments where he sang along to childhood YouTube videos from before his fame.
Setlist Details and Performance Highlights
Bieber's set opened with his 2025 song All I Can Take, followed by Speed Demon, which addressed public speculation about his well-being. He performed several tracks dedicated to his wife Hailey Bieber, such as First Place and Go Baby, alongside newer numbers like Walking Away and Petting Zoo. A crowd-pleasing rendition of Stay was included, reportedly based on viewer requests from the livestream comments.
The performance featured an acoustic segment with songs like Come Around Me and GLORY VOICE MEMO, before transitioning to a medley of classic hits including Baby, Favorite Girl, and Sorry. Bieber also revisited embarrassing old YouTube videos, such as footage of him walking into a glass door, adding a nostalgic yet controversial element to the show. The set concluded with tracks like Devotion, a duet with Dijon that ended in an embrace.
Context and Broader Festival Scene
This comeback was particularly significant as Bieber had abandoned his 2022 tour due to health concerns after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Ahead of Coachella, fans had expressed desperation to hear his old hits, but these were largely sidelined. In contrast, earlier in the festival, Jennifer Lopez made a surprise debut during David Guetta's set, delivering a high-energy performance of their new song Save Me Tonight in a glittering outfit, showcasing the production values many felt Bieber lacked.
Overall, Bieber's Coachella appearance sparked intense debate, highlighting divergent expectations between a minimalist, personal tribute and the extravagant spectacles typically associated with festival headliners.
