Charli XCX is leaning into the controversy following her recent performance at Glastonbury Festival on June 28, where her use of autotune and performance style sparked a heated debate among fans.
The singer, known for hits like “Apple” and “Boys,” took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the backlash, which came after a number of festivalgoers criticized her set for featuring heavy autotune and lacking a traditional live band.
In response to the criticism, Charli posted on X, expressing that she found the “discourse” surrounding her performance to be entertaining.
“The idea that singing with deliberate autotune makes you a fraud or that not having a traditional band suddenly means you must not be a ‘real artist’ is like, the most boring take ever,” she wrote, adding, “yawn sorry just fell asleep xx.”
She went on to say, “But to be honest… I enjoy the discourse,” suggesting that, in her opinion, art that sparks division and debate is often more impactful and thought-provoking.
Charli emphasized that she values being “divisive and confrontational,” stating that this often leads to the creation of “truly interesting culture” rather than something easily digestible and forgettable.
A Divided Response to Charli XCX’s Set
Charli XCX’s high-energy Glastonbury set received mixed reactions from fans. Some were less than impressed, with one commenter writing, “It’s official Charli XCX is the worst performer I have ever seen at Glastonbury,” and another stating, “Barely singing, autotune in the rare moments she does sing a bit and horrendous dancing. Be fuming if you spent ages getting into that crowd only to see [that].”
Some critics took issue with her heavy use of autotune, questioning her musical talent, with one person writing, “The idea that you can’t sing and have to hide behind auto-tune as a stylistic choice… well yes, we all know you’re untalented.”
However, many fans came to Charli’s defense, praising her performance. One fan wrote, “My jaw was on the floor—one of the best Glastonbury sets we’ve ever seen.”
Another fan, despite not being their favorite artist, described her as “extraordinary,” noting, “On that huge stage, alone, nowhere to hide… she was mesmerizing. Almost shamanic.”
Others celebrated her confidence, with one fan commenting, “It takes a supremely confident performer to get up on that huge stage all on your own and hold that enormous crowd in the palm of your hand for an hour.”
Charli XCX’s Setlist and The Brat Era
During her set, Charli performed a number of tracks from her 2024 album Brat, including “360,” “Club Classics,” “Apple,” “Girl, So Confusing,” “Sympathy Is a Knife,” and “Party 4 U.” She wrapped up the performance with a cover of Icona Pop’s hit “I Love It,” a track she is featured on.
At the end of the set, a message appeared on the screen that read, “Thank you so much Glastonbury. So we burnt it down – does that mean Brat is finally over?? Maybe it is. But probably NOT.
But we had to do it. And it looked cool.” The message continued with, “I think you all have proven to me that Brat is forever <3. I don’t know who I am if it’s over. It wasn’t just a summer thing… it’s a forever thing xx.”
Charli XCX’s Bold Artistic Vision
While some fans remain critical of her performance style, it’s clear that Charli XCX remains unapologetically herself, embracing the conversation around her work. Her approach to performance, both in terms of music and visuals, continues to challenge expectations and create strong reactions, both positive and negative.
Regardless of the differing opinions, one thing is clear: Charli XCX knows how to make an impact and keep fans talking.
