SZA shut down online speculation that she was paid to standby as a backup act for Justin Bieber's Coachella headline set. The singer clarified via Instagram that no one paid her and she was in New York at the time. Bieber's performance drew mixed reactions amid his comeback push.
Oh honey, the tea is piping hot from Coachella! 😏 SZA, the 36-year-old Grammy winner real name Solána Imani Rowe, clapped back at rumors swirling online. Fans speculated she got paid to be Plan B if Justin Bieber, 32, bailed on his headline slot during the festival's opening weekend. But SZA wasn't having it, commenting on Instagram: “Lmao who made this up? I’ve seen this 4 times now. No one paid me a dime. Wishing everyone the best.” She added she was chilling in New York. 👀 No contingency drama here, folks — just wishful thinking gone wild. Justin nailed his first set, complete with a pared-back vibe on a stool and nostalgic YouTube clips nodding to his teen YouTube days. Reactions? Divided AF. Some shade called it “lazy,” others hailed the clever throwback. Reports say Bieber pocketed $10 million for the gig, with a second headline slot locked in post his SWAG and SWAG II drops. Page Six spilled from a source: “Coachella will be a real indicator of how he moves forward... This is the launch for a potential comeback tour.” They gushed, “He’s a talented kid... everybody wants him.” Katy Perry was in the crowd, serving her signature wit: “Thank God he’s got premium. Don’t want to see no ads.” Iconic. 🔥 SZA's no stranger to Coachella stages, having lit it up in 2016 and 2018. But this time? She's firmly Team Not Involved. So, rumors busted — what's next for Bieber's big return?