Karol G made history Sunday night as the first Latina to ever headline Coachella, and she didn’t waste the moment. Taking the stage slightly behind schedule at around 10:30 p.m., the global 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 conform, 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 turned into a star-powered event. Mariah Angeliq was the first to join 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.”
Another added, “Temu version of Shakira.”
Others criticized the broader festival experience, with comments like, “Coachella is a perfect example of everything wrong 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 these days!! You get a side of social justice lecturing with your mediocre music, woohoo.”
Karol G Uses Coachella Stage To Uplift Latino Fans
Beyond the music, Karol G used her platform to speak directly to her audience, emphasizing that her historic achievement represented something much bigger. “It’s not just about me; this is about my Latina community, this is about my people,” she told the crowd.
She continued with a heartfelt message aimed at those facing challenges. “At the same time, this is about my Latinos who have been struggling in this country lately,” she said. “We stand for them. I stand for my Latina community. I’m proud because this brings out the best of us, unity, resiliance, a strong spirit.”
The artist went on to say, “We don’t do this because we want to take everyone out, we do this because we want everyone to feel welcome to our culture, to our music. I want everyone to feel proud of 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 in the past, even calling out a major 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 this message. Today, my GQ magazine cover was made public, a cover with an image that DOES NOT represent me,” she wrote.
Karol G made it clear she embraces her natural look, adding, “My face does not look like this. My body does not look like that, and I feel very happy and comfortable with how I look naturally.”
She also revealed that her excitement about the cover quickly faded due to the changes. “I was very happy when they confirmed it would be there, but despite making clear my discontent with the number 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 same time, Karol G also addressed body-shaming head-on after an Instagram user criticized her appearance in a recent post, specifically pointing out her stomach. Rather 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 how it is,” Karol wrote on her Instagram Stories, before adding a lighthearted explanation tied to a recent viral moment. “The tummy was because of the hot dog that someone gave me at a show a few days ago.”
She then turned the focus back to her audience, encouraging confidence and self-love. “Never let comments like these distort how beautiful you look … Everybody is different … Everyone is beautiful just the way they are.”