As the rumour raged online, singer SZA has dismissed rumours linking her to Justin Bieber’s Coachella performances, saying she was not involved in any contingency plans for the festival.
SZA has dismissed rumours linking her to Justin Bieber’s Coachella performances, saying she was not involved in any contingency plans for the festival.
The 36-year-old artist, whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe, responded to speculation circulating online she had been paid to remain on standby in case Justin, 32, withdrew from his headline slot at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Justin performed on the festival’s opening weekend and is scheduled to return for a second headline appearance, following the release of his albums SWAG and SWAG II.
Responding in an Instagram comment, SZA said about the rumour she had been paid to be a plan-B act at Coachella: “Lmao who made this up ?”
She added: “I’ve seen this 4 times now. No one paid me a dime. Wishing everyone the best.”
SZA also clarified her whereabouts at the time the rumours circulated, saying she was “in New York”.
Reports had suggested Justin received $10 million for his Coachella appearance, while his performance drew mixed reactions from audiences.
According to Page Six, an unnamed source said about the hype around Justin’s gig: “Coachella will be a real indicator of how he moves forward. There’s a lot riding on this, no doubt.”
They added: “Clearly, this is the launch for a potential comeback tour. This is not a one-and-done situation.
“He’s a talented kid, and people only want to see him succeed. It’s always hard when you (were once a teeny sensation and then) want to be a legitimate music artist. But everybody wants him.”
Justin’s performance included a pared-back set in which he used a stool and incorporated clips from YouTube, prompting a divided response online.
Some viewers criticised the approach as “lazy”, while others said it was a clever nod to his early rise to prominence through the platform.
Among those attending was Katy Perry, who commented on the performance by saying: “Thank God he’s got premium. Don’t want to see no ads.”
SZA has previously appeared at Coachella, performing at earlier editions of the festival in 2016 and 2018.
The Grammy-winning R and B artist known for Ctrl and SOS is renowned for blending vulnerability and innovation, achieving global success, critical acclaim and chart dominance.
SZA hits back at rumours she was paid to be back-up for Justin Bieber’s Coachella performances
