A seemingly lighthearted exchange between pop artist Charli XCX and punk rock band Green Day unfolded across two weekends at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The interaction began after Charli XCX appeared following her performance wearing a sash that read "Miss Should Be Headliner."
The sash was interpreted by some fans online as a slight against Green Day, who headlined the Saturday night lineup on both festival weekends, performing just before Charli XCX took the stage. This interpretation generated discussion across social media platforms.
During Green Day’s second weekend performance, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong was seen wearing a fan's neon green hat emblazoned with the word "brat." This appeared to be a direct reference to Charli XCX's latest album, titled "brat."
Adding to the playful back-and-forth, Green Day drummer Tré Cool was later photographed backstage. He wore his own makeshift sash bearing the words "Actual Headliner," openly acknowledging and responding to the earlier accessory worn by Charli XCX.
Despite the online speculation among some supporters of both artists, sources suggest the dynamic between the band and the singer remained amicable. The gestures from the Green Day members seemed intended as humorous responses rather than genuine conflict. Charli XCX herself later shared the photo of Tré Cool with his sash on social media, commenting "obsessed," indicating she took the gesture in good spirits.
Beyond the festival stage banter, Billie Joe Armstrong incorporated lyrical changes into Green Day's performance. During their set, Armstrong altered lines in their song "Jesus of Suburbia," notably shifting focus to political matters, referencing the Israel-Gaza conflict and later taking aim at figures like J.D. Vance.
These political lyrical changes were highlighted by some observers online as a contrast to the pop culture conversation surrounding the sash incident. One fan, quoted in reporting on the event, noted, “green day making a political statement about s— that actually matters > pop girlies singing about coke.”
Green Day's performances spanned their extensive career, including tracks from albums like "Kerplunk" and their recent release, "Saviors." Their sets featured moments like a minor pyrotechnic mishap on the first weekend and an appearance by Flavor Flav as a mascot during the second.
Charli XCX's set showcased her album "Brat," offering a performance described as high-energy and aligned with her party-girl image, featuring collaborators onstage.
Ultimately, the perceived "mini-feud" between Charli XCX and the members of Green Day appeared contained to a few sartorial choices and social media posts, interpreted by many as a humorous exchange rather than genuine animosity. As one fan summed up the situation online, "Green day are just playing, Charli was just playing … it’s really not this deep."
