Bieberchella: Is Bieber Really Back?

By: Lucy Fries, Senior Writer Edited by: Catie Taylor

Springtime is known to bring many illnesses such as common colds and allergies, but no one anticipated the sickness that has taken over this year: Bieber Fever. With Justin Bieber’s recent performance at Coachella, an immense sense of FOMO settled in for fans. But did they miss all that much? 

After the announcement in September that Justin Bieber would be headlining Coachella, social media was flooded with reactions. Not only was it a big deal for every girl who sang “Baby” in their Bieber Pajamas when they were little, but it was also the first time the artist had taken the stage since his performance ​​at the Rock in Rio festival in Brazil in 2022. 

Bieber took a break from performing in 2022 after announcing that he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, a virus that affects facial nerves, leaving the artist with partial facial paralysis. At the time, Bieber released a statement speaking on his current situation and explaining the reason behind his cancellations. 

“...As you can see, this eye is not blinking,” said Bieber. “I can’t smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move… So, for those who are frustrated by my cancellations of the next shows, I’m just physically obviously not capable of doing them….I wish this wasn’t the case, but obviously my body’s telling me I got to slow down, and I hope you guys understand.”

With the artist being on an ongoing break, fans were shocked and ecstatic when it was announced that Bieber would be performing at Coachella 2026, which is a major reason why tickets sold out in less than four days. Many fans posted about how they were dying to be at Bieber’s set. As videos were posted of fans lip-syncing to old songs claiming they should be there, and even rebranding Coachella as “Bieberchella”, the anticipation of the artist’s performance seemed to not only take over socials, but took over Coachella. 

Upon taking the stage, Bieber seemed to continue to generate media attention, but not for all the right reasons. The artist’s performance mostly consisted of playing recent songs, while only sprinkling in a few of his beloved hits. Towards the second half, Bieber stood behind his laptop searching up old music videos and harmonizing with karaoke videos of his younger self. Performing on a bare stage, the artist's “big” return performance was anything but grand. 

Some fans argued that his set was true to himself and mature, while others weren’t so happy with it, expressing frustration and deception, saying the performance they paid hundreds or thousands of dollars to see  was “lazy” and “low energy.” Critics of the performance went as far as to say that this was the “Worst Coachella Set Played” and that it highlights an issue in the music industry.

“A lot of people are pointing out the ‘double standard’ that exists in the music industry, where male performers have a noticeably lower bar than women do,” Buzzfeed wrote in a recent article, “And regardless of how you feel about Justin Bieber, you can’t deny they have a POINT.” 

The article went on to quote several tweets pertaining to this frustration, with one fan saying “I'm crying this might actually be the worst performance I’ve ever seen,” and another: “He’s literally just playing music videos from YouTube…zero effort, just pure laziness.” Various fans gave their take on the idea of a music industry double standard, connecting it to the hate Sabrina Carpenter has received. “If Sabrina Carpenter did what Justin Bieber is doing right now, her career would be over,” one user speculated.

Audience members’ frustration isn’t just about the low effort performance, but receiving something so underwhelming, given what Bieber was said to have been paid. Reported to be the highest paid artist in Coachella history, Bieber reportedly earned ten million dollars for his performance alone. On top of that, the artist sold five million dollars worth of products via his brand Skylark. 

“Justin Bieber being the most paid artist by Coachella, and he offered a performance with literally no work, no budget, and some people are praising him,” a person wrote on X. 

Despite the large amount of displeasure about Bieber’s performance, some people are defending it, claiming to understand the heart behind the low-key set. “He not only called upon pre-recorded materials, but his own viral history. His self-referential performance was directly inspired by online cultural consumption,” claimed a recent article, “His interaction with YouTube was relatable and human, rather than detached and lazy.”

Many fans also expressed feeling a genuine connection to the performance, seemingly being a part of  “the journey” that Bieber promised at the beginning of his set. “These 8 minutes of Justin Bieber singing his old songs, I’m going to treasure them in my heart for the rest of my life,” wrote a fan.

Additionally, Bieber’s wife, Hailey Bieber,  subtly addressed the backlash in an Instagram post. “Such a special weekend,” said Hailey in the caption,“Nobody will ever know even an ounce of what it’s taken to get here. so grateful for this beautiful life. SO proud. let’s do it all again!!!!”

Bieber didn’t just receive familial support, though. Other celebrities spoke out in full support of his set. "I watched a pop star who grew up in front of the world fully transcend into his artistry last night. I watched someone who gave us his all, his whole life... finally nourish himself," said Lizzo, “When you use your gift for God, it will make people uncomfortable. But that's OK because the ones who stick beside you will feel the love. Thank you @lilbieber 💜"

It's an undeniable fact that Bieber’s performance was less groundbreaking than anticipated. Because of his simple set, fans are left to interpret Bieber’s return as genuine in its simplicity, or entirely lazy. Acknowledging the artist's personal health can bring compassion, but at the same time, it’s important to consider the singer’s payout and influence in the musical industry that had fans wishing he ended his set with “Sorry”.

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