Justin Bieber is facing backlash after what fans are calling a “lazy” headlining gig at Coachella, where the pop star’s set included singing snippets of his greatest hits off a laptop amid his “groundbreaking” payday.
The 32-year-old singer, who reportedly pocketed $10 million for the gig, performed in a casual hoodie, shorts and shades on Saturday night as he took a stripped-down approach to his much-anticipated performance that left many people confused.
Instead of delivering a high-energy comeback packed with his easily recognizable tracks, the “Daisies” singer played a handful of songs from his 2025 “SWAG II” album before he turned it over to his classics.
Bieber sat on a stool with a laptop, scrolling through YouTube videos of his songs and streaming his earlier music as part of a brief 12-song medley.
The reaction on social media was immediate.
“Not Justin Bieber scammed Coachella out of $10 million to play songs off of YouTube…” one person wrote.
Another added, “Justin Bieber giving us one of the laziest performances of all time.”
A third piled on, “If Sabrina Carpenter did what Justin Bieber is doing right now, her career would be over.”
The comparison to Carpenter, who headlined the first night of the California festival with a polished, high-production show complete with celebrity cameos, only intensified the criticism.
Bieber’s set, which kicked off at 11:25 p.m. local time, had already been rumored to be delayed due to desert winds, but he hit the stage on time.
The screen also featured viral clips, including his own “is it not clocking to you” moment when he clashed with paparazzi, as well as classic memes like “deez nuts” and “double rainbow,” adding to the chaotic feel of the set.
Another went even further: “justin bieber 2026 coachella performance may just be the worst mass streamed/televised performance…ever?”
Some defended Bieber, pointing out that using YouTube was “a little iconic” since “Justin became famous” through the platform.
One X user dubbed him a “mastermind” — but acknowledged “some won’t understand.”
In an attempt to engage the audience, Bieber asked fans to “help me with the songs tonight,” encouraging them to drop their favorites into the livestream comments.
He then pulled from those suggestions in real time, further leaning into the improvised nature of the show.
One of the more unexpected moments came when Bieber dug up his own past, playing YouTube clips of himself as a child — including a nearly two-decade-old cover of a Ne-Yo song — which famously helped lead to his discovery by Usher and Scooter Braun.
Bieber reportedly secured his Coachella deal directly with Goldenvoice, earning $5 million per weekend, without the help of an agent.
The move followed his split from longtime manager Braun in 2023 after roughly 15 years.
Bieber is no stranger to Coachella, having previously appeared as a surprise guest alongside stars like Ariana Grande, Chance the Rapper, Daniel Caesar and Tems.
But this marked his first time topping the bill — and for many fans, it didn’t live up to the hype.
