Justin Bieber criticised for 'lazy' Coachella show amid $10m payday rumours

Justin Bieber is under fire from fans who labeled his Coachella headlining performance as "lazy," accusing the singer of delivering only brief renditions of his top hits from a laptop while commanding a record payday.

The 32-year-old performer, who allegedly earned a remarkable $10 million for his appearance, took the stage Saturday night dressed in a laid-back hoodie, shorts, and sunglasses, opting for a minimalist approach to his eagerly awaited show that left many attendees perplexed.

Instead of delivering a dynamic revival featuring his most famous songs, the hitmaker of “Daisies” chose to perform a few tracks from his 2025 album “SWAG II” before launching into his timeless hits.

Bieber perched on a stool alongside a laptop, browsing through YouTube videos of his tracks while streaming snippets of his earlier work in a short medley of 12 songs.

“Did Justin Bieber really trick Coachella into paying him $10 million just to play songs from YouTube…” one fan remarked.

Another chipped in, “Justin Bieber presented one of the most lackluster performances of all time.”

A third commentator noted, “If Sabrina Carpenter did what Justin Bieber is doing now, her career would collapse.”

The contrast to Carpenter, who headlined Coachella's opening night with an impressive high-energy show filled with celebrity guests, only fueled the critical voices.

Bieber’s live set, which kicked off at 11:25pm local time, was rumoured to face delays because of desert winds, but he stuck to the scheduled time.

The backdrop included viral moments, such as his own "is it not clocking to you" incident with photographers, along with famed memes like "deez nuts" and "double rainbow," adding to the unpredictable nature of the show.

Another person even suggested: “Justin Bieber's 2026 Coachella performance might be the worst ever televised or streamed event?”

Seeking to connect with the crowd, Bieber asked the audience to “help me with tonight’s songs,” urging them to suggest their favorites in the livestream chat.

He then selected tunes based on real-time suggestions, embracing the unscripted vibe of the event.

A surprising highlight of the evening came when Bieber revisited his roots, playing his childhood YouTube clips, including a nearly 20-year-old rendition of a Ne-Yo song — famously marking his discovery by Usher and Scooter Braun.

Bieber is said to have directly negotiated his Coachella deal with Goldenvoice, netting $5 million for each weekend, all without an agent.

This decision followed his 2023 split from long-serving manager Braun after about 15 years together.

Having made prior appearances at Coachella as a surprise collaborator alongside famous artists like Ariana Grande, Chance the Rapper, Daniel Caesar, and Tems, Bieber is no stranger to the festival.

Nevertheless, his first time as the main attraction left many fans feeling it didn’t meet their expectations.