Rema, born Divine Ikubor, left fans reeling after a performance branded a “disaster” at Coachella 2025, per independent.co.uk. Scheduled for a 45-minute set on the Mojave stage from 6:40 to 7:25 p.m. PT, the 22-year-old artiste arrived 30 minutes late, sparking frustration among eager attendees and livestream viewers alike.
As the clock ticked, a DJ and a small group of musicians took the stage on time, attempting to hold the crowd’s attention. The DJ hyped the audience, proclaiming, “Rema’s about to take the stage!” Yet, 20 minutes passed with no sign of the headliner. Finally, the music halted abruptly, and the DJ rallied the crowd with, “Are you ready? If you’re ready for Rema, make some mother******’ noise!” Rema emerged, but the excitement quickly soured.
Fans noticed Rema appeared to lip-sync portions of his performance, a blow to those expecting the raw energy of hits like “Dumebi” or his Selena Gomez duet, “Calm Down.” Water breaks interrupted the already shortened set, and in a chaotic move, Rema had the band restart a song after a last-second change of plan. The set ended abruptly, leaving the audience confused and unsatisfied. Some hoped for a surprise Gomez appearance, but no such luck.
Social media erupted with disappointment. “The Rema set at Coachella is a disaster. 20 mins in and Rema is nowhere to be found. The DJ has been hyping the crowd while the band just stares at each other,” one X user posted. Another wrote, “Coachella being my first time seeing Rema perform … I thought he had a better artistic direction, stage not that different, not even 3 dancers & a basic ass outfit.” A sympathetic fan speculated, “What just happened? Rema has been affected by something that happened backstage. This is not him.”
Rema’s tardiness isn’t new. In 2023, he walked off an Atlanta stage mid-set, citing poor production quality. In 2024, he left the Dreamville Festival in North Carolina after sound issues. These incidents have fuelled debates about his professionalism, with Coachella now adding fuel to the fire.
The abbreviated performance stood in stark contrast to the expectations set by Rema’s meteoric rise. Since bursting onto the scene with “Dumebi” in 2019, he’s been a beacon of Afrobeats’ global takeover, with Rave & Roses cementing his stardom. Yet, his Coachella showing—marked by a bare-bones stage setup and minimal live vocals—left fans questioning his preparation.
