Charli XCX closed the Other Stage at Glastonbury on Saturday night with a high-octane set that drew one of the biggest crowds of the day - but not everyone was impressed.
The Cambridge-born singer, 32, delivered an energetic performance in skimpy black stagewear, commanding the audience with her signature brat-pop sound and choreography.
While many festival-goers at Worthy Farm appeared to lap up the theatrics, some viewers watching the BBC’s live broadcast accused the singer of miming.
“Charli XCX is bloody dreadful,” one viewer wrote on X. “Could literally be any random person miming. WTF for a Glastonbury Saturday night, disappointing.”
Another posted: “Charli xcx embarrassing that, turning up to walk around stage pretending to sing…”
A third viewer added: “What part of Charli XCX is ‘live music’? Get her off that stage ffs.”
Others were more generous, with fans describing the performance as “iconic” and “bloody amazing”. “Charli xcx is taking over Glasto,” one wrote. “She’s killing it.”
Oh ffs can’t watch Scissor Sisters and Charli XCX is bloody dreadful. Could literally be any random person miming. WTF for a Glastonbury Saturday night, disappointing.
— Katie #FBPE (@katv31) June 28, 2025
The set comes at the peak of Charli’s “Brat” era, following the huge success of her chart-topping sixth album, which has been widely praised for its raw lyrics, club-ready beats and unapologetic attitude.
The record debuted at number one in the UK, Ireland and Australia, and number three in the US - making it the most commercially successful release of her career so far.
During Saturday’s set, Charli performed fan favourites including 360, Vroom Vroom, Boys, and Speed Drive, which featured on the Barbie soundtrack.
Ahead of her performance, she was spotted backstage with friend Denise Welch - the Loose Women star and mother of The 1975 frontman Matty Healy.
Healy, a longtime collaborator and vocal supporter of Charli, name-checked her during his band’s own divisive Glastonbury set on Friday night.
Despite the online backlash, the star appeared unfazed as she tore through her 45-minute set, at one point dropping to her knees in front of the cameras and throwing her head back to screams from the crowd.
The set came just hours after chaos at the West Holts stage, where controversial Irish rap trio Kneecap performed amid security restrictions and political controversy.
