Why Female Pop Stars Still Have to Do More | Bieber vs Sabrina Carpenter at Coachella

At Coachella 2026, two performances sparked completely different reactions.Justin Bieber took to the stage with a laptop, revisiting old performances and creating a stripped-back, introspective set that divided opinion. Some called it lazy. Others called it art.Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter delivered a full-scale headline performance choreography, costume changes, live band and was praised for doing exactly what was expected.So why are these performances judged so differently?This video explores the double standard in pop music, and why female artists are still expected to do more to prove themselves, while male artists are often given the space to do less and have it framed as artistic.From performance, to perception, to the language we use to describe both, this is about more than just Coachella. It’s about who gets to define what “good” looks like.