The internet has been set ablaze with rumors about the possible cancellation of Frank Ocean’s headline performance at Coachella. The popular music festival, which is attended by thousands of fans every year, announced that the Grammy-winning singer would be headlining one of its weekends earlier this month. But as the event draws closer, it appears that Frank Ocean may no longer be part of the line-up. Here’s everything we know so far about the set drama surrounding Frank Ocean and Coachella.
Frank Ocean has withdrawn from headlining the final weekend of the Coachella music festival in California, USA. After a polarizing performance in the week prior to the event, the artist’s rep informed Variety that Ocean had suffered two fractures and a sprain in his left leg following an injury on festival grounds. The injury meant that Ocean was initially unable to perform the weekend one set, leading to a change in set list 72 hours before performing. Following an apology for any disappointment caused and expressing his hope to return soon, Ocean has now been forced to cancel his appearance due to medical advice.
During Ocean’s headline set at weekend one, which was beset by production issues, most of the crowd was unable to see the artist or his band. Although the entire set was not livestreamed, Justin Bieber reported on Instagram that he had been “blown away” by the performance, citing Ocean’s “artistry, style and attention to detail” as unparalleled, and called the performance one he would “never forget”. This endorsement has since been cited in support of Ocean on social media.
The festival organizers have not officially announced a replacement headliner for weekend two, but reports from those close to the event suggest that rock group Blink-182 have been selected to replace Ocean. The band was not originally part of the festival lineup but was added on 13 April in preparation for their performance on Friday 14 April, during which the band, including Tom DeLonge, reunited for the first time since 2015. Kourtney Kardashian, wife of Blink-182’s drummer, Travis Barker, posted her support on Instagram.
The Coachella festival ran over two weekends from 14-16 and 21-23 April, with performers including Radiohead and Lady Gaga. For many artists and attendees, Coachella has become a way to start the US festival season early, with many festival-goers keen to catch new music and see what the coming year has in store. The festival has grown in popularity since its inception in 1999, with the 2016 event attracting almost 100,000 people each day. This year’s ticket sales appear to confirm that Coachella remains a popular destination for festival-goers, with both weekends of the event sold out.
As we bid adieu to the news of Frank Ocean no longer headlining Coachella, we cannot help but wonder what could have been. It is disappointing to hear of the set drama that led to his departure from the stage, but we can only hope that he will grace us with his presence at another festival soon. While we may not have the opportunity to experience his talent at Coachella this year, we can still appreciate the impact he has had on the music industry and continue to enjoy his exceptional music. Here’s to looking forward to the next chapter in Frank Ocean’s musical journey, and the hope that his future performances will exceed all expectations.
