Karol G. made history Sunday night as the first Latina to make headlines Coachellaand she didn’t waste the moment. Taking the stage slightly late at around 10:30 p.m., the global superstar delivered a visually arresting performance blending storytelling, cultural pride and a surprise guest list.
Karol G Opens Up With Epic Visuals and Surprise Guests
Karol G kicked off her set with a cave painting style video that presented the tale of a wild and free woman who loses her voice trying to conform, only to reclaim her power and rise again. Moments later, she appeared on stage, launching into “Latina Foreva,” followed by “Un Gatito Me Llamo,” immediately setting the tone for the evening.
The show quickly turned into a star-studded event. Mariah Angeliq was the first to join Karol G on stage for “El Makinon”, followed by Becky G.who performed his hit “Mamiiii”.
The surprises don’t stop there. Karol G also featured reggaeton icon Wisin and Cigarettes After Sex frontman Greg Gonzalez.
Fans clash over her controversial Coachella set
Although many praised the performance, not all reactions were positive. Some critics took to social media with harsh words, with one writing: “The show was super raunchy with a satanic vibe. Really sick.”
Another added: “Temu version of Shakira.”
Others have criticized the broader festival experience, with comments such as: “Coachella is a perfect example of everything that is wrong with modern life. What was once a fun music festival for those who attend has been entirely commercialized and now politicized.”
“Music festivals look like fun these days!! You get a side of social justice by teaching classes with your mediocre music, woohoo.”
Karol G uses the 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 greater. “It’s not just about me; it’s about my Latina community, it’s about my people,” she told the crowd.
She continued with a heartfelt message for those facing challenges. “At the same time, it’s about my Latinos who have had a hard time in this country lately,” she said. “We stand up for them. I stand up for my Latina community. I’m proud because it brings out the best in us, unity, resilience, a strong spirit.”
The artist went on to say, “We’re not doing this because we want to exclude everyone, we’re doing it because we want everyone to feel welcome in our culture, in our music. I want everyone to feel proud of where you come from. Please don’t be afraid, be proud. Raise your flag.”
She had already spoken out against retouched images
Karol G has spoken out about her 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 to its cover photo, sharing a side-by-side comparison with a bare-faced selfie on social media. “I don’t even know where to begin with this post. 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 that she’s sticking to her natural appearance, adding, “My face doesn’t look like that. My body doesn’t look like that, and I feel very happy and comfortable with my natural appearance.”
She also revealed that her enthusiasm for the cover quickly faded due to the changes. “I was very happy when they confirmed he would be there, but despite my dissatisfaction with the number of [edits] they did it [to] the photo, they did nothing,” she shared.
The experience made her question the message behind the changes. “Like looking good, I needed all these 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 ignore the comment, the singer shared it publicly and took the opportunity to send a message of self-acceptance to her fans.
“It’s not about whether my body favors me or not, because well, it’s my body and that’s how it is,” Karol wrote on her Instagram Stories, before adding a light-hearted explanation related to a recent viral moment. “The belly was from the hot dog someone gave me at a show a few days ago.”
She then shifted the focus back to her audience, encouraging confidence and self-love. “Never let comments like these distort your beauty…Everyone is different…Everyone is beautiful just the way they are.”
