Zara Larsson Reacts To Justin Bieber’s Coachella 2026 Set And Sparks Huge Fan Debate Online
If you spent your Monday morning scrolling through shaky fan cams of Coachella, you probably noticed two things: it is still the influencer Olympics and Justin Bieber’s headlining set has the internet completely divided. While some were weeping in the front row, Swedish pop queen Zara Larsson took to TikTok to deliver a verdict that was equal parts savage and dare I say, accurate.
Posting a video of the performance on TikTok, Zara wrote: “It’s giving let’s smoke and watch YouTube”.
Honestly? Where is the lie?
While the Beliebers are out here defending the minimalism, others are pointing out the glaring double standard. As writer Kriti Gupta noted on Threads: “I’m also acutely aware that if a woman (with a similar career history) showed up to a headline slot with this energy, the internet would not be having a nuanced conversation about it.”
She’s not wrong. We live in a world where female pop stars, like Sabrina Carpenter who headlined the night before, are expected to pull off Olympic-level choreography while singing live in a corset, yet Justin can essentially recreate a teenage bedroom hang and we call it “subversive”.
We’ve been here before — the man once played the Grammys in his undies and was hailed as a visionary. The bar for men in pop isn’t just low, it’s practically in hell.
Even Katy Perry couldn’t resist a cheeky dig during the set, joking: “Thank god he has [YouTube Premium], I don’t wanna see no ads”.
Is it art or is Justin Bieber just trolling?
Of course, not everyone thinks JB was just being lazy at Coachella. Some fans argue the “YouTube aesthetic” was a deep-cut homage to his origins. Radio host, Nick W Kelly took to TikTok to defend the vibe, saying: “You can’t expect him to get up there and put the purple and white hoodie on… this is his recontextualising of this. It’s respecting the fans’ appreciation for the past but also reminding you ‘this is me now’.”
According to this school of thought, the lo-fi energy was a “deep troll” and a way of making amends with his younger, viral self. Marcy Lee echoed this on TikTok, suggesting the performance was symbolic: “It’s symbolic of how Justin has made amends with his relationship with the internet and his past self.”
I will say, it did seem like the crowd was really vibing with the set and as someone who has been to a Justin Bieber club night that also just played YouTube videos, I get it.
But, as someone who also reckons artistry and stagecraft are just as vital as the tracks themselves, the whole “homage to my younger self” thing felt a bit like an excuse for a lack of rehearsal. It’s a nice narrative, but it doesn’t quite make up for a headlining slot that felt like a casual rehearsal.
Does this mean I’ll stop listening to his discography or skip his next tour? Never say never. But for weekend two, maybe he could just leave the YouTube tabs at home.
