Contrary to earlier claims, YouTube will not be live-streaming Frank Ocean’s headline set at Coachella 2023.
The performance marked the end of Ocean’s six-year hiatus and was due to take place at 10.05pm PDT (6.05pm UK time).
However, the video platform announced that it had pulled the performance from the festival’s YouTube streaming schedule via Twitter.
YouTube wrote: “Frank Ocean is not scheduled to appear on the Coachella live stream.”
Frank Ocean is not scheduled to appear on the Coachella livestream. The current schedule is in the description → https://t.co/oweGcgaTZs
— YouTube (@YouTube) April 17, 2023
The news comes as a shock to Frank Ocean fans around the world who were hoping to see the performance, despite not being able to attend Coachella in person.
Even for those watching live, the performance was reportedly underwhelming, with Variety describing it as ‘aimless’.
“Ocean’s set — during which he and his musicians were intentionally obscured by a cadre of people walking in a circle around them, only seen on video projected on custom screens even more massive than those that usually flank Coachella’s main stage — was messy, loose, and a near-disaster that will likely go down as one of the most divisive in Coachella history, with flashes of brilliance that only made for a frustrating final outcome: that of disappointment and palpable audience WTF-ness,” wrote Variety reporter Jeff Miller.
Ocean was also vague abiout whether he was releasing an album: “I want to talk about why I’m here because it’s not because of a new album.… Not that there’s not a new album,” he said.
Other fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment with the performance.
Frank Ocean absolutely bombing his Coachella set was not on my bingo card this year
— PK (@SchoolboyPk) April 17, 2023
how are people even mad at Frank Ocean??? You went to Coachella, what about his music makes you believe he’s gonna do a Beyoncé level performance?
— cult leader (@sexycultleader) April 17, 2023
I have never been happier that I didn’t waste money to see Frank Ocean end Coachella like this…horrific lmao pic.twitter.com/WeoGRHqnQS
— yllireally (@whydee__) April 17, 2023
However, Ocean did pay tribute to his late brother, Ryan Breaux, who died in a car accident in 2020.
He shared his memory of attending Coachella with Ryan, who was a big fan of the festival.
For music fans who are wondering if they will be able to catch up with other acts online, there is good news. The rest of the livestream schedule is going ahead as planned, with performances from Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, and Rosalia all streamed for the world to see on YouTube.
