Justin Bieber's headlining performance at Coachella on Sunday has sparked mixed reactions, with some calling it a work of genius and others labeling it the worst performance ever. The 32-year-old pop star appeared at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, for his first headline set at the festival since 2022.
During the show, Bieber sang along to songs on his laptop, checked for fan requests, and played viral videos of himself and memes on YouTube. At one point, he complained about the Wi-Fi connection as videos buffered. The informal, seemingly unrehearsed setup divided the audience.
Australian singer The Kid Laroi joined Bieber on stage for their hit 2021 song 'Stay,' which has been streamed nearly four billion times on Spotify. The duo hugged after the performance, and The Kid Laroi returned to the crowd.
Some fans expressed disappointment, with one viewer on X calling it 'the most low effort performance ever.' Another wrote that 'people were leaving in DROVES.' Critics argued that the performance reflected a double standard, with one commenter stating, 'If a woman sat on the floor scrolling through their music videos on youtube they’d be crucified alive... men get away with the bare minimum.'
However, others defended Bieber, saying he captured the 'streamer era aesthetic.' One fan insisted, 'This is a highly produced set.' Bieber reportedly earned more than $10 million for his two Coachella weekends, according to Rolling Stone.
Bieber's appearance marked his gradual return to the stage after health issues, including a diagnosis of Ramsay Hunt syndrome in 2022. He released the album 'Swag' in 2025, followed by 'Swag II,' his eighth studio album.
