Charli XCX caused a stir at a Coachella afterparty Saturday night when she was spotted wearing a cheeky sash that read “Miss Should Be Headliner.” The bold accessory came just hours after her high-energy set on the festival’s main stage, where she performed tracks from her acclaimed 2024 album BRAT.
The 32-year-old artist has had a phenomenal year, with BRAT earning her a UK No. 1 for the first time in over a decade and securing her position as a leading voice in pop innovation. Her Coachella performance — which featured surprise guests Billie Eilish, Lorde, and Troye Sivan — was one of the highlights of the weekend, leaving fans buzzing with excitement about what’s next.
Still, the sash raised eyebrows, as it seemed to throw shade at Coachella’s headliner: Green Day. The iconic pop-punk band, who closed out the night with a politically charged, career-spanning set, holds a legacy that few in music — let alone the current festival circuit — can match. With over 75 million records sold worldwide, five UK No. 1 albums, and nearly 500 weeks on the Top 75 charts, Green Day’s cultural impact is undeniable.
While Charli’s confidence is part of what endears her to fans, the timing of the sash — particularly following a headlining performance by a band that used their platform to address global issues, including the ongoing crisis in Palestine — struck some as tone-deaf.
Green Day has long woven activism into their music, from the anti-establishment anthems of American Idiot to their recent lyric changes in “Jesus of Suburbia” highlighting international injustice. Their Coachella set was no exception, with Billie Joe Armstrong’s impassioned performance reminding audiences why the band remains not just relevant, but vital.
There’s no denying Charli XCX has had a breakout era with BRAT, and her artistic evolution continues to impress. But when it comes to festival headlining slots, longevity and cultural influence still matter — and Green Day’s decades of fearless music-making and global resonance are what legends are made of.