Justin Bieber showed up to headline Coachella on Saturday night with a $10 million paycheck and a laptop. Instead of delivering a high-energy live show, the 32-year-old sat on a stool, pulled up YouTube, and sang along to his own music videos karaoke-style. Social media erupted almost instantly.
Fox News reported that Bieber opened the set with tracks from his recent “SWAG” and “SWAG II” albums before pivoting to an extended laptop segment lasting nearly 25 minutes. He scrolled through YouTube in real time, pulling up music videos of classics like “Baby,” “Never Say Never,” and “Beauty and the Beat,” then sang along while the videos played on the giant screens behind him.
The format was unlike anything seen at a major festival headlining slot. Bieber asked fans in the livestream comments to request songs, then searched for them on the spot. Some videos buffered. At one point, he played random internet memes, including the viral “Deez Nuts” Vine and a clip of himself walking into a glass door. Katy Perry, watching from the crowd, was caught on camera reacting to the moment: “Thank God he has Premium. I don’t wanna see no ads.”
The backlash hits fast
The criticism was immediate and harsh. “I’m crying, this might actually be the worst performance I’ve ever seen. He’s literally just playing music videos from YouTube… zero effort, just pure laziness,” one user wrote on X. Another called it “one of the laziest performances of all time,” while a third said, “Not Justin Bieber scamming Coachella out of $10 million to play songs off of YouTube.”
The backlash was made worse by comparisons to fellow headliner Sabrina Carpenter, who opened the festival the night before with a polished, high-production show full of celebrity cameos. “If Sabrina Carpenter did what Justin Bieber is doing right now, her career would be over,” one person wrote on X. A debate about double standards in the music industry quickly followed, with some pointing out that a female artist would never get away with the same approach.
According to Page Six, fans were also frustrated that it took more than 30 minutes before Bieber played any of his well-known hits. When he did get to them, he cut several short, including “Baby.” One user summed it up bluntly: “Something very sad and depressing about Justin Bieber speedrunning through all his old hits while sitting on a chair playing parts of his songs on a laptop.”
Some fans defended the stripped-down show
Not everyone was disappointed. Supporters argued that Bieber’s YouTube roots were a big part of his story, noting he became famous as a teenager by posting homemade covers on the platform. “At this point in his career, he doesn’t really need to do much for his performances to be impactful,” one fan wrote. “The nostalgia alone is enough. He was the first YouTube superstar, so him playing that in the background is a full circle moment.”
Variety described the YouTube segment as “fairly endearing,” noting that it gave fans a dose of nostalgia and allowed Bieber to revisit songs he hadn’t performed live in over a decade. The set also featured surprise guests including The Kid Laroi, Dijon, Wizkid, and Mk.gee. A source close to Bieber told Rolling Stone it was “a groundbreaking move for a headliner.” Bieber is scheduled to headline Coachella again on April 18 for Weekend 2.
Bieber’s long road back to the stage
The Coachella performance was Bieber’s first major headlining show since the 2022 Justice World Tour, which he cut short after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, a condition that caused partial facial paralysis. The comeback has been years in the making, and throughout the hiatus, Bieber was open about his mental health struggles on social media.
His return has also come with some business changes. Also, Bieber reportedly secured the Coachella deal himself, earning $5 million per weekend directly with Goldenvoice without an agent. The deal came after his 2023 split from longtime manager Scooter Braun, ending a 15-year partnership. The arrangement speaks to the kind of celebrity behavior that often divides public opinion, similar to how experts say celebrities think twice before socializing with Meghan Markle when reputation is on the line.
Whether audiences embrace the stripped-down style or not, Bieber closed his set with “Daisies” and told the crowd, “Tonight has been beautiful.” For some, it was exactly that. For others, it was a $10 million YouTube session. The debate has become one of the hottest moments from the festival weekend, with no sign of slowing down before Weekend 2.
