Criticism comes after the ‘Boyfriend’ singer failed to perform during Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show
Justin Bieber shocked fans by making a surprise cameo at Coachella 2024 – but social media users have all said the same thing about his performance.
On Friday (April 13), thousands of festival-goers flocked to California to experience the first weekend of the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
This year, headliners Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat and rapper Tyler, The Creator led the pack. Peggy Gou, Reneé Rapp and Victoria Monét also performed across the weekend, alongside Ice Spice and Sabrina Carpenter.
Elsewhere, award-winning R&B star Tems stepped out and made her debut on the third day of the festival.
On Sunday (April 15), the 28-year-old performed various tracks from her 2020 album For Broken Ears and 2021’s follow-up If Orange Was a Place.
However, Tems whipped the crowd into a frenzy when she brought out surprise guests Wizkid, 33, and Justin, 30, for a raucous rendition of ‘Essence’.
The collaboration track was originally released in 2020, but gained traction and entered the Billboard charts nine months after its release. It became the first Afrobeats song to crack the top 10 and peaked at the number nine position.
The Nigerian singer/songwriter, whose real name is Temilade Openiyi, teased Wizkid and Justin’s appearance earlier that day.
She took to social media before her performance and wrote: “Coachella! I’m too exciteddd I have a surprise tonight.”
Instagram/@justinbieber
Following the big reveal, fans have been discussing the ‘Baby’ hitmaker’s impromptu Coachella show – many blasting him for performing at the festival after snubbing a cameo at this year’s Super Bowl.
One music fan took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: “Justin Bieber’s performance at Coachella just reminded me he declined to perform at the Super Bowl.”
A second said: “Usher looking at Justin Bieber perform at Coachella but not Super Bowl.”
Another queried: “Justin Bieber came out for Coachella but not for the Super Bowl?”
“Oh so you could perform here but not the Super Bowl,” commented another.
However, many other fans were quick to praise Justin. One Instagram user said: “When he’s back on that stage doing what he was born to do, everything in the world seems a little better & brighter.
“Seriously. I hope he’s enjoyed the time he’s taken for himself, but that Legend better feel that love & know HE. IS. MISSED.”
Another said: “King Is Back.”
Criticism for Justin comes after the star reportedly declined to perform during Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show at the Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
The snub came despite him being present at the recent NFL championship game with his wife, Hailey Bieber, 27.
In an interview with E! News, Usher revealed he and his protégée had a ‘brief conversation’ about a potential cameo, which was turned down by the Canadian.
“I think that it might’ve been the fact that he was just wanting to tell a different story right now and I understand that.
CBS
“But we did have a brief conversation. We’re going to do something else in the future. There’s no love lost or anything like that.”
The ‘Love in This Club’ singer went on to reveal that Justin ‘wasn’t the only’ person he contacted ahead of the performance and for fans to keep their eyes peeled for future collaborations.
Tyla has contacted representatives of Justin Bieber for further comment.
