Karol G made history Sunday night as the primary Latina to ever headline Coachella, and he or she didn’t waste the moment. Taking the stage barely behind schedule at around 10:30 p.m., the worldwide superstar delivered a visually striking performance that blended storytelling, cultural pride, and a lineup of surprise guests.
Karol G Opens With Epic Visuals And Surprise Guests
Karol G kicked off her set with a cave painting-style video that introduced a narrative of a wild, free woman who loses her voice while trying to adapt, only to reclaim her power and rise again. Moments later, she emerged onstage, launching into “Latina Foreva,” followed by “Un Gatito Me Llamo,” immediately setting the tone for the night.
The show quickly became a star-powered event. Mariah Angeliq was the primary to affix Karol G onstage for “El Makinon,” followed by Becky G, who performed their hit “Mamiii.”
The surprises didn’t stop there. Karol G also brought out reggaeton icon Wisin and Cigarettes After Sex frontman Greg Gonzalez.
Fans Clash Over Her Controversial Coachella Set
While many praised the performance, not all reactions were positive. Some critics took to social media with harsh takes, with one writing, “The show was ultra raunchy with a satanic vibe. Really sick.”
One other added, “Temu version of Shakira.”
Others criticized the broader festival experience, with comments like, “Coachella is an ideal example of all the pieces improper about modern life. What was once a fun music festival for those participating has been entirely commercialized and now politicized.”
“Music festivals sure sound fun today!! You get a side of social justice lecturing together with your mediocre music, woohoo.”
Karol G Uses Coachella Stage To Uplift Latino Fans
Beyond the music, Karol G used her platform to talk on to her audience, emphasizing that her historic achievement represented something much larger. “It’s not nearly me; that is about my Latina community, that is about my people,” she told the group.
She continued with a heartfelt message geared toward those facing challenges. “At the identical time, that is about my Latinos who’ve been struggling on this country recently,” she said. “We stand for them. I stand for my Latina community. I’m proud because this brings out one of the best of us, unity, resiliance, a powerful spirit.”
The artist went on to say, “We don’t do that because we wish to take everyone out, we do that because we wish everyone to feel welcome to our culture, to our music. I need everyone to feel pleased with where you come from. Please don’t feel scared, feel proud. Raise your flag.”
She Previously Spoke Out Against Edited Images
Karol G has been vocal about body image prior to now, even calling out a serious publication for digitally altering her appearance.
In 2023, the singer criticized GQ Mexico after noticing significant edits made to her cover photo, sharing a side-by-side comparison with a bare-faced selfie on social media. “I don’t even know where to start out this message. Today, my GQ magazine cover was made public, a canopy with a picture that DOES NOT represent me,” she wrote.
Karol G made it clear she embraces her natural look, adding, “My face doesn’t appear like this. My body doesn’t appear like that, and I feel very comfortable and comfy with how I look naturally.”
She also revealed that her excitement concerning the cover quickly faded as a consequence of the changes. “I used to be very comfortable once they confirmed it will be there, but despite making clear my discontent with the variety of [edits] they did [to] the photo, they didn’t do anything about it,” she shared.
The experience left her questioning the message behind the edits. “As if to look good, I needed all those changes,” she said.
Karol G Claps Back At Body-Shaming Comment With Empowering Message
Around the identical time, Karol G also addressed body-shaming head-on after an Instagram user criticized her appearance in a recent post, specifically declaring her stomach. Fairly than ignoring the comment, the singer shared it publicly and used the moment to send a message of self-acceptance to her fans.
“It’s not about whether or not my body favors me, because well, that’s my body and that’s the way it is,” Karol wrote on her Instagram Stories, before adding a lighthearted explanation tied to a recent viral moment. “The stomach was due to hot dog that somebody gave me at a show a couple of days ago.”
She then turned the main target back to her audience, encouraging confidence and self-love. “Never let comments like these distort how beautiful you look … Everybody is different … Everyone seems to be beautiful just the way in which they’re.”