Justin Bieber has kind words for Frank Ocean following Coachella performance

Justin Bieber was one of the few sympathetic voices chiming in amongst the criticism for musician Frank Ocean after a less-than impressive performance at Coachella.

Ocean had been out of the spotlight for six years, and returned to the stage from his long hiatus to headline alongside Bad Bunny and Blackpink on April 16 at Coachella 2023. But his performance caused much controversy among his disappointed fans.

Fans eagerly awaited a ground-breaking performance after such a long time away, especially as other superstars who have taken long stretches of time off have done so well in their comeback performances, such as Rihanna at the Super Bowl in February, and Taylor Swift with her ‘Eras Tour’ kicking off with raging success in March.

Justin Bieber is more sympathetic about Ocean’s performance

Justin Bieber, who surprised Coachella audiences in 2019 by joining headliner Ariana Grande on stage, took to Instagram to encourage Ocean. Bieber emphasized the other singer’s talent rather than the shortcomings of his comeback show.

The ‘Sorry’ singer posted a close-up image of Frank Ocean during the performance that was projected on the screens at the concert.

“I was blown away by Frank Oceans Coachella performance,” Bieber wrote in the caption. “His artistry is simply unmatched, his style, his taste, his voice, his attention to detail.. I was deeply moved.”

“It made me want to keep going and get better as an artist,” Bieber’s heartfelt post continued. “He continues to set the bar high and gave me a night I will never forget! Thanks Frank.”

Justin Bieber, who has been public about his ongoing battle with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, makes an effort to stay positive when it comes to managing his own health.

What happened with Frank Ocean’s performance?

Frank Ocean took the stage an hour later than scheduled, and his set was truncated to less than 90 minutes due to the Coachella curfew. Though he played 18 of his fans’ favorite songs, he skipped over some popular tracks. There was also no merchandise available.

Ocean chiefly performed from the piano, sitting down for most of the set with his back to the crowd, and reportedly lip-synced throughout the performance. Other fans commented that their view of Ocean was obscured greater still by dancers walking about the stage.

In addition to all this, the musician’s livestream was canceled the day of the show, widely disappointing and confusing fans who have been long awaiting the performance.

Frank Ocean’s team confirmed on Monday that the musician was having an issue with his ankle, having suffered an injury during the week’s dress rehearsals.