Frank Ocean, the highly anticipated headliner for the second weekend of theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, has withdrawn from his scheduled performance due to a leg injury.
Representatives for the reclusive artist confirmed that he will not appear on Sunday, April 23, andBlink-182, who recently reunited, will take his spot instead. The evening will end with a newly announced set featuring electronic acts Four Tet, Fred Again and Skrillex.
Ocean’s management explained that he sustained a leg injury on festival grounds in the week leading up to a baffling, meandering set — that started an hour late — during the opening weekend of the three-day concert in Indio (Riverside County).
“弗兰克海洋无法执行intended show but was still intent on performing, and in 72 hours, the show was reworked out of necessity,” his management said. “On doctor’s advice, he is not able to perform weekend 2 due to two fractures and a sprain in his left leg.”
Ocean’s performance on Sunday, April 16, was marked by technical issues and a delayed start time. He offered heavily reworked versions of popular songs such as “Novacane” and “White Ferrari,” performing behind a large screen and a group of individuals who appeared to walk around the stage aimlessly. The artist was supposed to be accompanied by120 professional figure skaters, but this was abandoned last minute due to his ankle injury.
It was also one of the only sets not featured on the festival’sYouTube live stream.
Ocean, who had not performed live since 2017 before the Coachella set, expressed disappointment about his return to the stage.
“It was chaotic,” he said in a statement. “There is some beauty in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show, but I did enjoy being out there, and I’ll see you soon.”
His tardiness caused the festival to incur a fine from Indio city officials for breaking the strict curfew for the Empire Polo Club.
Despite widespread criticism, he drew praise from at least one high-profile fan. Justin Bieber wrote inan Instagram postthat he was deeply moved by Ocean’s Coachella performance.
“It made me want to keep going and get better as an artist,” Bieber wrote. “He continues to set the bar high and gave me a night I will never forget! Thanks Frank.”
Ocean’s appearance at Coachella 2023 was locked in and announced by promoter Goldenvoice two years earlier, after the festival was canceled for two years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Now he becomes the second headliner to withdraw from their scheduled set, afterKanye Westcanceled his appearance last year, citing undisclosed reasons.
Apart from the original lineup of Blink-182 replacing Ocean as the headliner this Sunday, the festival’s other bold-name acts, includingBlackpink, Bad Bunny,Björk, Burna Boy,Gorillaz, Rosalía and others, are set to return for the festival’s second weekend as planned.
Reach Aidin Vaziri: avaziri@sfchronicle.com