Frank Ocean made a highly-anticipated return to the stage at California's Coachella festival over the weekend, but the show ended up disastrous and fans have blasted his comeback performance as "terrible."
The 35-year-old American singing sensation was blighted by a horror injury just a week, ahead of his performance at the prominent festival, which often sees a variety of famous faces and influencers in attendance.
Fans who turned up for the show faced an hour-long delay, reportedly linked to his performance set, which was due to feature on an ice rink before he suffered an ankle injury during rehearsals.
A source close to the situation told The Mirror: "Frank suffered an injury to his ankle at on-site rehearsals in the week leading up to the festival. Production was adjusted according to doctors' advice."
The Ivy singer's Coachella show was supposed to include a performance on an ice rink which had been "constructed and ready to go," according to the reports. Festival news source Festive Owl wrote on Twitter: "Frank decided at the last minute that he no longer wanted it at all."
They explained: "All of the people walking around him at the start of the performance were actually ice skaters, had been practicing for weeks, and were supposed to be skating as part of the production. Coachella had to deconstruct the approved stage (that had been planned and signed off on for months in advance) + melt the entire ice rink and then set it up how Frank decided today with no warning."
Fans were left furious over the performance and his set was pulled from the festival's livestream at the last minute, with those hoping to watch his first show since 2017 from home left out of luck following the late YouTube announcement.
Replying to the comments, one person wrote: "My friends brother in law was one of the ice skaters I can confirm was a mess." A disappointed fan tweeted: "Shocked he was chosen as the headliner could've gone to someone who actually cared." "He wanted all that for a terrible performance," a third person said.
Frank was also criticised for changing the arrangements, speeds, and melodies of his well-known hits, making it almost impossible for his fans to sing along. The 35-year-old has also been blasted for exiting the stage for long periods of time and coming back to only sing snippets of his biggest hits.
According to Rolling Stone Magazine, for fan-favourite tracks such as 'Chanel', 'Nikes', and 'Nights', Ocean didn't even offer live vocals. Instead, he decided to play their studio versions and mouth along while walking around the stage.
Frank left the stage after an hour and 20 minutes, abruptly revealing: "I'm being told it's curfew, so that's the end of the show" as fans booed as he left the stage, with one person later tweeting: "As a frank ocean fan he deserved to be boo'd off that stage."
Meanwhile, other people have called for the musician to be scrapped from Coachella's upcoming weekend this Sunday. But the American singer and songwriter did have some support in his corner, after being praised by some fans, including musician Justin Bieber, who went to watch the show.
The 29-year-old Canadian singer posted a gushing tribute to Frank saying he feels compelled to keep working hard on his music and "get better as an artist" after watching the performance.
Sharing a photo of Frank's set featuring a documentary-style photo of his face enlarged on a screen, Justin opened up about how much it meant to him.
"I was blown away by Frank Ocean's Coachella performance," the singer penned. "His artistry is simply unmatched, his style, his taste, his voice, his attention to detail. I was deeply moved.
"It made me want to keep going and get better as an artist. He continues to set the bar high and gave me a night I will never forget. Thanks Frank."
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
Red Hot Chili Peppers announce Scottish date as part of global tour
Lewis Capaldi and Niall Horan plan 'one big blowout' before US tour
Katie Price announces Christmas pantomime role amid bankruptcy hearing
Vick Hope finally reveals all about 'perfect' Calvin Harris proposal
Rita Ora 'laughs' at ex Calvin Harris after Scots DJ's brutal review of unreleased song
