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Diplo praises Justin Bieber’s Coachella headlining performance
Fellow artists offer support for Bieber’s artistic choices during his recent festival appearance
Diplo has labelled Justin Bieber’s recent Coachella headlining set as "legendary," defending the singer’s unconventional performance style against a wave of mixed reviews.
Speaking at an Afrobeats brunch following Bieber's Saturday show, the 47-year-old DJ praised the 32-year-old pop star for a 90-minute set that heavily featured his YouTube origins.
Diplo was particularly impressed by a segment where Bieber sat at a laptop to play snippets of early hits like "Baby" and "Favorite Girl" directly from the video platform, noting that "nobody else could go to Coachella and just sit on his laptop... because that’s legendary."
The performance, which supported his SWAG and SWAG II era, included high-profile surprise guests such as Tems, Wizkid, and the Kid LAROI.
However, it drew comparisons to the more choreographed production of Friday headliner Sabrina Carpenter. Despite some criticism of the "laid-back" vibe, fellow artists Lizzo and Labrinth took to social media to celebrate Bieber’s growth.
Lizzo described the set as a moment where Bieber "fully transcended into his artistry," while Labrinth encouraged him to stay true to his vision regardless of public opinion.
A source close to Bieber told PEOPLE that the singer is "not focused" on the internet chatter and feels "great" about the performance.
The source added that Bieber’s primary goal was to reconnect with fans in a way that felt authentic to his current life. Diplo echoed this sentiment, suggesting the structure of the show offered an intimate, party-like atmosphere that reflected Bieber's true personality.
As the festival concludes its first weekend, the debate over Bieber’s minimalist approach remains one of the most discussed topics of the 2026 season.
