Glastonbury-goers have slammed the festival after a ‘disappointing’ lineup, miming allegations, technical issues and a ‘dreadful’ headline act left it mired in controversy.
Fans branded American R&B singer SZA’s headline performance as the worst ever after a dismal turnout and technical issues plagued her set.
Grammy and Brit-winning singer SZA (pronounced Sizza), 34, has been releasing music for more than a decade but is yet to have a British number one.
Even so, the ‘unknown’ singer was selected to headline Glastonbury – and compete against hit bands London Grammar and The National, who were playing at the same time.
England’s last-16 Euros match against Slovakia was also showing on the same day – with hundreds of Glasto-goers flocking to ex-One Direction star Louis Tomlinson’s camp after he set up a TV to watch the game.
It’s the latest disaster for Glastonbury, whose artists have been accused of miming and whose sets have been plagued with sound problems.
Disappointed festival-goers also criticised expensive bar prices and woke activities such as exercising with Joe Wicks.
Fans branded controversial American R&B singer SZA’s headline performance as the worst ever after a dismal turnout and technical issues plagued her set
Glastonbury -goers have slammed the festival after a ‘disappointing’ lineup, miming allegations, technical issues and a ‘dreadful’ headline act left it mired in controversy
Grammy and Brit winning singer SZA (pronounced Sizza), 34, (pictured) has been releasing music for more than a decade but is yet to have a British number one
Ex-One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson watches the England Game at Glastonbury
The football was not shown at the festival but some festival-goers set a a make shift screen to live stream the game
Festival-goers were shocked at the expensive bar prices
Wrapping up a weekend of sound issues was SZA’s headline gig on Sunday night, with some claiming it sounded like she was ‘singing into a fan’
SZA’s show also struggled to draw in the huge crowds that were on display during Coldplay ‘s headline slot the previous evening, with the small numbers noticeable in BBC’s coverage
Many fans had no clue who the singer from America was and took to social media to voice their displeasure
Fans said Sza’s performance was ‘painful’ and ‘dreadful’, with some calling her ‘the worst headliner of all time’.
Others said the turnout for her performance was ‘shockingly small’ and said the organisers had ‘messed up big time’ after ‘barely anyone’ showed up to watch SZA.
Written in less than an hour by the star, the lyrics of ‘Kill Bill’ imagine SZA mending her broken heart by murdering her ex-boyfriend for moving on from their relationship too quickly.
Due to the violent nature of the song, some radio stations opted for a censored version of ‘Kill Bill’ when playing the track by replacing ‘kill’ with the sounds of a slashing blade.
Others accused her of glorifying knife crime after brandishing two machetes while on stage
SZA performs as she headlines the Pyramid Stage during day five of Glastonbury Festival 2024 at Worthy Farm
Lyrics from the song include: ‘I just killed my ex / Not the best idea / Killed his girlfriend next, how’d I get there?’
SZA adds: ‘I don’t want none, I just want you / If I can’t have you, no one should.’
She previously told the Los Angeles Times: ‘It doesn’t mean I’m supporting violence.
‘The actualization of a human being is when the Buddha and the demon meet each other – they’re two ends of the same spectrum.
‘You can’t kill your shadow, it just has to be part of you. Cleansing oneself of negative feelings is an act of healing. I wish healing for everybody.’
Fans slammed her performance on Sunday as she brandished two machetes on stage – despite a knife crime epidemic sweeping through the nation.
One said: ‘We’re trying [to] stop knives and she’s carrying a machete on stage.’
Another said: ‘SZA walking round on stage flashing around a machete glorifying knife crime!
‘Glastonbury definitely lost the plot this year!’
They added: ‘Is there any need for a machete to be on stage or anywhere for that matter not sure a good look especially with knife crime going through the roof in this country it’s just not right.’
Meanwhile, SZA’s performance seemed to be affected by more sound issues as some said it sounded like she was singing through a fan.
SZA was far from the only star to be affected by sound issues during the festival, with Shania Twain hit by similar woes during her much-anticipated Legends show earlier in the day.
The iconic singer could be seen struggling with her ear piece as she seemed to have trouble with her pitch and timing.
Horrified fans rushed to X, formerly Twitter, to slam the behind the scenes crew as they felt nothing but sympathy for Shania’s moment being ruined.
They wrote: ‘Utterly horrific sound mix on Shania!’: ‘Sound is pretty rubbish for Shania’: ”Looks like Shania knows something is wrong with the sound’.
‘Sorry why does Shania Twain sound awful at Glaso?’: ‘Can someone please rescue Shania. Clearly having bad sound issues and it ain’t helping’: ‘What is going on with the sound for Shania Twain?! She’s really struggling. This is absolutely dreadful’.
Many fans had opted to join Louis and his sister Lottie to watch England’s Euro 2024 victory over Slovakia, after Glastonbury organisers confirmed they would not be screening the match.
The One Direction star was branded a ‘hero’ by fans after setting up a TV at his campsite to watch the Three Lions thrilling victory over Slovakia
SZA was far from the only star to be affected by sound issues during the festival, with Shania Twain hit by similar woes during her much-anticipated Legends show earlier in the day
Cyndi Lauper’s performance on Saturday was also beset by problems.
Festival-goers were left struggling to hear the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun singer’s vocals as her voice was drowned out by rumbling bass.
After a few songs, Cyndi, 71, performed Rocking Chair and she seemed to struggle with her pitch and timing.
The sound issues appeared to have been resolved by the time she got to her hit I Drove All Night.
But Cyndi faltered again on her 1984 track Time After Time as she lagged behind the band – suggesting she was having trouble with her in-ear monitors.
The festival has already been mired in controversy after fans accused Dua Lipa, Camila Cabello and Coldplay of miming.
One viewer said: ‘Imagine paying all that money to go Glastonbury to stand there and watch Dua Lipa mime the song and not even sing it. How bad.’
Another wrote online: ‘Dua Lipa delivering a Top of the Pops mime set’.
A third said: ‘It’s a shame Dua Lipa can’t sing live. Don’t turn up to Glasto and mime. Rubbish.’
Another added: ‘Dua Lipa has some decent catchy tunes, but I’m fairly sure she’s lip syncing. Sounds like a live vocal, but just not convinced she’s singing it live ‘right now’.’
Dua Lipa has denied she mimes during performances.
Chris Martin has been accused of ‘blagging’ and miming as acts at Glastonbury have been blighted by sound issues across the board
Dua Lipa was the first to be accused of lip-syncing by those watching coverage of the festival on the BBC on Friday night, but she has since hit back at the claims
Glastonbury Festival has come under fire after a slew of artists were hit with technical problems that left them sounding ‘awful’ (Dua Lipa pictured on Friday night)
There was also other complaints about the quality of the sound, with Cyndi Lauper ‘s performance on Saturday beset by problems
However, she’s not the only artist to face fans’ ire. After Coldplay’s set, one fan said: ‘Tons of miming and backing tracks being used in this Coldplay performance. Bass player in danger of being made redundant.’
A second said: ‘There’s a fair amount of blagging and miming going on here… Loads of tracks running in the background.’
A third commented: ‘The people who were giving off about Taylor Swift’s band miming or using backing tracks would get a big surprise if they saw Coldplay’s input list.’
Another singer to have come under the scrutiny of eagle-eyed fans is Camila Cabello, who put on a racy performance at her set on Saturday.
Last year, headliners Guns N’ Roses set was impacted, with viewers claiming they ‘couldn’t hear’ singer Axl Rose. In turn, the band blamed the BBC for the sound issues
Dua Lipa was the first to be accused of lip-syncing by those watching coverage of the festival on the BBC on Friday night
Another to have come under the scrutiny of eagle eyed fans is Camila Cabello, who put on a racy performance at her set on Saturday
The singer, 27, who rose to prominence as a member of the pop girl group Fifth Harmony, sent temperatures soaring as she took to the stage in a busty top and hot pants.
While viewers’ eyes popped out their sockets at the steamy performance, some couldn’t help but notice something off, accusing the singer of miming her songs.
One person posted on X: ‘Camila Cabello miming her way through her set.’
A second wrote: ‘You were s**te you lip syncing fake.’
MailOnline has contacted SZA and Glastonbury for comment.