As Justin Bieber effortlessly delivered a low-key headlining performance at Coachella, a new debate has surfaced on social media, asking whether a female artist could do the same.
Following his Saturday night set, which was relatively stripped-down compared to Sabrina Carpenter's theatrical performance the night before, social media was flooded with candid and contrasting reactions to his concert.
On one hand, people were slamming Bieber's performance, describing it as lazy and underwhelming, despite his reportedly high paycheck for the gig. Critics cited the singer's minimal stage design and lack of backup dancers, as well as the fact that he sat down for around 30 minutes in the middle of his set to play snippets of his older classics, such as "Baby" and "Never Say Never," straight from YouTube on his laptop.
Some even compared it to Carpenter's Friday night headlining show, which featured multiple over-the-top set designs, outfit changes, acting cameos from Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon, and Will Ferrell, backup dancers galore, and even the singer ascending from a car with a water fountain at the end.
One user shared on X, "Female artists give full effort: flying, high notes, fireworks, outfits. Meanwhile, Justin Bieber, the most expensive Coachella performer, just sits in a plain tee, plays YouTube, no makeup, and still gets a pass? Switch the roles and a woman would get dragged immediately."
Another person wrote, "Fans defending Justin Bieber's mediocre Coachella performance, saying he's 32 and it's normal not to have the same energy anymore. Meanwhile Lady Gaga at 36," sharing a clip of the "Abracadabra" singer's electric 2025 Coachella headlining performance.
However, while some would have preferred Bieber to deliver a high-budget production, many OG Bieber fans seemed more than delighted about his intimate performance. Many have taken to social media to commend the singer for his "healing" concert, packed with nostalgia.
One person wrote on X, "A lot of people are calling it low energy or underwhelming. But for me, it felt like the healthiest kind of comeback for Justin. He did not force a high-production machine that could burn him out again. Instead, he sat with his past, scrolling through old YouTube videos, dueting with his younger self, and mixing nostalgia with new chapters."
"That takes real courage when fame once broke so many pieces of you," they continued. "It is a quiet reminder that healing is not always loud or flashy. Sometimes it is choosing peace, family, and honest storytelling over what the crowd expects. I am happy for Justin."
Another X user shared a similar sentiment, writing, "Justin's performance at Coachella was so much more than just music; it was a full circle moment of healing. Watching him embrace his past and acknowledge that he finally has everything he ever wished for moved me to tears. I am so incredibly proud of his journey and the person he has become."
People will always defend their arguments, but until a top-charting female artist who's booked as a Coachella headliner delivers a performance that's widely deemed lackluster, there's no way to truly speculate what the reception will be. And either way, there will always be critics of a major festival's headliners. But one thing is for certain: male headliners can still receive widespread backlash. Just look at Frank Ocean's ill-fated weekend one performance in 2023 as an example.
