Scheduled to perform on the Mojave stage from 6:40 p.m. to 7:25 p.m. Pacific Time, the 22-year-old Afrobeats star was notably absent as his set time began. While his DJ and band members took the stage promptly, they were left to entertain a waiting crowd.
The DJ attempted to keep spirits high, announcing after several minutes, "Rema’s about to take the stage!" However, nearly 20 more minutes passed before Rema finally made his entrance, following an emphatic final plea from the DJ: "Are you ready? If you’re ready for Rema, make some mother******’ noise!”
When Rema, born Divine Ikubor, did appear, the performance that followed reportedly did little to salvage the situation for many disillusioned fans. Observers noted that the singer appeared to be lip-syncing during portions of the severely shortened set. The performance was also marked by pauses for water breaks and confusion, including an instance where Rema reportedly had the band restart a song after changing his mind about the selection at the last second. In an apparent effort to make up for the delay, the set continued beyond its allotted time before ending abruptly, leaving attendees confused.
Disappointment was evident both among the festival-goers in California and fans watching the livestream, including many back in Nigeria. Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) buzzed with commentary. "The Rema set at Coachella is a disaster. 20 mins in and Rema Is nowhere to be found... It’s the DJ’s set at this point," one user wrote. Another remarked on the awkwardness: "Nahh Rema pulling up late while the DJ & guitarist look around wondering where he’s at is wild."
Criticism also extended to the perceived lack of production value and stage presence. "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 and I swear so far he has sung 3 lines live," shared one attendee online. However, some speculated that unseen issues might have impacted the performance, with one comment reading, "What just happened? Rema has been affected by something that happened backstage. This is not him. But you can tell he is trying."
Adding to the disappointment was the absence of a hoped-for guest appearance by Selena Gomez, who collaborated with Rema on the global hit remix of his 2022 song "Calm Down" (from his debut album "Rave & Roses"). Due to the time constraints, only a few songs were performed.
This incident is not the first time Rema, who broke out internationally with his 2019 hit "Dumebi," has faced performance controversies. He walked off stage mid-set during a 2023 show in Atlanta, citing disrespect due to poor production quality. Similarly, in 2024, he cut short his performance at the Dreamville Festival in North Carolina after repeatedly complaining about sound issues.
Rema's Coachella 2025 set, unfortunately, seems destined to be remembered more for its tardiness and ensuing complications than for the music itself, adding another chapter to the young star's history of challenging live performances.