JAKARTA - The grand stage of Coachella 2026, which was supposed to be an emotional comeback moment for Justin Bieber, ended up in a wave of sharp criticism.
The 32-year-old singer sparked controversy after delivering an appearance that many considered "lazy", although he was rumored to have pocketed a fantastic fee of up to 10 million US dollars or the equivalent of Rp. 155 billion for his appearance at Coachella.
After a long hiatus from the big stage since the cancellation of the Justice World Tour in 2022, Bieber took to the stage in Indio, California, with a very minimalist concept.
In the first half of the show, he performed the latest songs from the albums "Swag" and "Swag II". However, the atmosphere changed drastically when Bieber sat down behind a desk that only contained a laptop, then started playing his own music videos through the YouTube platform.
"Tonight is a very special night. I feel we have to take you on a journey. Do you remember this song?" said Bieber to the crowd while searching for his old hits such as "Baby", "Never Say Never", and "Beauty and the Beat" in the YouTube search column.
Bieber's action of guiding a mass karaoke with the background of his own music video triggered a cynical reaction on social media. In fact, singer Katy Perry, who was also present at the location, made a sarcastic comment through a post on her personal Instagram.
"Thank God he has (a YouTube account) Premium. I don't want to see any ads that appear," joked Perry, who was caught on camera monitoring the awkward moment between the video search.
Fierce criticism also flowed heavily on the X platform. Many netizens regretted the lack of effort from the highest paid artists at the festival.
"I'm crying watching this, this is probably the worst performance I've ever seen. He's literally just playing a music video from YouTube. Zero effort, really a real laziness," wrote one viral X user.
However, not everyone is disappointed. Some of Bieber's fanatic fans actually defend the stripped-down concept presented. They think Bieber's pure vocals are much more valuable than a magnificent stage production.
"Justin Bieber really beats the standards of other artists. You don't need high production or ten costume changes to give a good performance. All you need is pure talent. He is a legend," a fan defended.
Meanwhile, Bieber's internal party claimed that this concept was a bold move to show Bieber's authentic side.
Launching a report from Rolling Stone, a source close to Hailey Baldwin's husband stated that the appearance at Coachella was a new chapter in his career.
"This is a groundbreaking move for a headliner, and it's something he's built entirely on his own. Between topping Coachella and the success of the 'Swag' album, it's clear this is the start of an exciting new era for Justin, where he's in full control of his creativity," the source said.
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