The Ben Shapiro Show: Coachella Recap 2026
Date: April 18, 2026
Theme: Ben Shapiro, famously uninterested in Coachella, delivers a biting, rapid-fire conservative take on the 2026 festival, breaking down viral performances, celebrity antics, and fashion while skewering the event’s cultural and financial absurdities. With multiple producers chiming in, the episode blends sharp cultural criticism, humor, and skepticism about generational trends and celebrity behavior.
1. Episode Overview
The episode centers on Ben Shapiro reluctantly reviewing and analyzing the biggest moments from Coachella 2026, at the prodding of his production team. The discussion covers the festival’s escalating costs, headline performances, celebrity drama, viral moments, and outlandish attendee outfits. Throughout, Shapiro delivers his signature snarky, fact-driven commentary, focusing especially on generational maturity, social media culture, and the disconnect between festival fun and real-world responsibilities.
2. Key Discussion Points and Insights
A. Coachella’s Exorbitant Cost & Value (02:36–03:19)
- Financial Reality Check:
- General admission: $799; VIP: $1300.
- “If you don't have the money to do things, you probably should not do those things... If you're already broke, you may as well be dead ass broke.” — Ben Shapiro (02:44)
- Ridiculous Food Prices:
- Viral TikToks report $40 pizzas and French fries.
- Shapiro jokes, “Is the food made of gold?... kosher pizza is pretty expensive, but it is not $40, actually.” (03:19)
- Festival Conditions:
- Setting up a city in the mud recalled, with references to “rainstorms that turn the whole thing into STDs in the mud.”
B. Justin Bieber’s Headline Performance (03:52–06:18)
- Viral Clip & Payout:
- Bieber negotiated a $10 million Coachella check, performed solo, playing old videos, harmonizing with himself.
- Mixed Reactions:
- Shapiro: “Justin Bieber could do anything up there and get paid $10 million…He showed up, did his authentic thing… That's a man making his money right there.” (04:20)
- On harmonizing: “He's not really harmonizing with himself as much as just singing an octave lower, but okay. Honestly, kind of charming." (05:22)
- Analysis of Style:
- Praises Bieber for counter-programming by not doing a standard pop spectacle. “It's kind of brilliant, actually.” (05:54)
- Memorable Teasing:
- “Ben Shapiro is a believer. You heard it here first.” — Producer (06:10)
C. Celebrities Behaving Badly: Justin Trudeau & Katy Perry (06:18–07:45)
- Public Romance & Critique:
- Trudeau (54) and Perry (41) spotted together; mocked for attempting to dress and act much younger.
- “All these middle aged women cosplaying as 21 year old girls is really kind of silly.” — Ben Shapiro (06:50)
- Hypocrisy Called Out:
- Trudeau criticized for carrying a single-use plastic cup despite banning them in Canada: “That is hilarious. But also, that's the thing that upsets you about Justin Trudeau? Not that he's a douchebag who wrecked your country and also is now dating a pop star who is way past her prime?” (07:26)
- Cultural Commentary:
- Shapiro finds the refusal of older celebrities to age gracefully “drives me up a wall." (07:45)
D. Sabrina Carpenter’s Performance Controversy (07:45–09:45)
- The "Cultural Ignorance" Clip:
- Sabrina does an Arabic/Sephardi celebration yodel on stage, which some call “cultural appropriation.”
- Shapiro contextualizes it: “My wife is of Moroccan extraction... So I knew what that was immediately, but I know they're mad at Sabrina Carpenter for not knowing what that was, which is like, who cares?” (09:04)
- Overblown Apologies:
- On her apology for misunderstood sarcasm, Shapiro: “Why does she have to apologize in the first place? That's so stupid. On the list of sins... this is not even chart in, like, the top 200.” (09:52)
E. Viral WTF Moments: Lizzo, Paris Hilton, and Fashion Roasts (11:09–15:10)
Lizzo’s Bizarre Onstage Antics (11:09–12:05)
- Viral Video Reaction:
- Lizzo featured with fictional(?) “Labubu” for a visually extreme performance.
- “I'm wondering what the audience is to watch Lizzo get railed by a Labubu. Who is the audience for this?” — Ben Shapiro (11:36)
- “Laboos are demonic. We all know this.” — Producer (11:55)
Paris Hilton Outruns Her Bodyguard (12:05–12:58)
- Physical Comedy:
- Paris, in a wedding dress and six-inch heels, easily outruns a less-than-athletic bodyguard.
- “If you can't keep up with Paris Hilton in six inch heels gallivanting around a meadow in a wedding dress, then I think that says more about your fitness level than it does about Paris Hilton being weird." (12:58)
Annual Costume Roast: Outfits and Generational Critique (13:01–15:10)
- By-the-Numbers Fashion Ratings:
- Shapiro reacts to a parade of viral Coachella outfits, from “cowboy stripper” looks to “fish face” and “Halloween stripper time.”
- “It's going to be zero, of course, for everything. I mean, no new.” (13:13)
- “Addison Rae is what, the porn star?... She's a tiktoker.” (13:55-13:58)
- Famous Boobs, Fame is a Gun:
- Shapiro on Addison Rae's stage persona: “She has famous boobs…Fame is a gun. Fame is a chicken.” (14:19-14:26)
- Aliens & Lil Nas X:
- Outfit compared to alien abduction or “caught in a fishnet…half colonized by fish…then Lil Nas X put her through fashion training.” (14:44)
F. Kardashians & Heidi Klum: Contrasts in Age Appropriateness (15:10–16:03)
- Kardashians Most "Normal":
- “They were the least crazy people at the asylum?” — Ben Shapiro (15:22)
- Kendall Jenner & Jacob Elordi’s Rumored Romance:
- “You could have said any name at the end of that sentence, and I would have said, well…” (15:30)
- Heidi Klum, 52, and the Aging Gracefully Debate:
- Klum’s odd, tattered disguise outfit rouses Shapiro’s recurring point: “If you are 52 years old, you should not be dressing like this. I don't care what kind of shape you're in…You should be a human being of your age.” (16:03)
3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “If you don't have the money to do things, you probably should not do those things.” — Ben Shapiro (02:44)
- “Justin Bieber could do anything up there and get paid $10 million… That's a man making his money right there.” — Ben Shapiro (04:20)
- “All these middle aged women cosplaying as 21 year old girls is really kind of silly.” — Ben Shapiro (06:50)
- “That he's using single use plastic. Not that he's a douchebag who wrecked your country and also is now dating a pop star who is way past her prime.” — Ben Shapiro (07:26)
- “On the list of sins... this is not even chart in, like, the top 200.” — Ben Shapiro on Sabrina Carpenter apology (09:52)
- “I'm wondering what the audience is to watch Lizzo get railed by a Labubu. Who is the audience for this?” — Ben Shapiro (11:36)
- “If you can't keep up with Paris Hilton in six inch heels gallivanting around a meadow in a wedding dress, then I think that says more about your fitness level than it does about Paris Hilton being weird." — Ben Shapiro (12:58)
- “If you are 52 years old, you should not be dressing like this... You should be a human being of your age.” — Ben Shapiro (16:03)
- “My message to the people of Coachella... Grow up. Like, seriously, grow up. Go to a concert. Enjoy yourself. But if you're gonna dress like a clown, then don't expect everyone to treat you with respect.” — Ben Shapiro (16:01)
4. Timestamps for Key Segments
- Coachella Cost & Financial Rant: 02:36–03:19
- Justin Bieber’s Performance & Analysis: 03:52–06:18
- Trudeau & Perry Critique: 06:18–07:45
- Sabrina Carpenter Controversy: 07:45–09:45
- Lizzo & Labubu Onstage: 11:09–12:05
- Paris Hilton/Bodyguard Clip: 12:05–12:58
- Outfit Roast: 13:01–15:10
- Kardashians & Heidi Klum: 15:10–16:03
- Closing Generational Message: 16:01–16:20
5. Tone & Style
Ben Shapiro’s trademark sarcasm, quick wit, and cultural frustration are on full display. Throughout, there’s a mix of playful banter with producers, generational skepticism, and conservative critique—not just of celebrities but also of the cultural and financial priorities of festival-goers. The episode oscillates between deadpan observations, rapid-fire jokes, and sincere generational advice.
6. Final Takeaways
- Shapiro paints Coachella as an event emblematic of cultural decline and financial irresponsibility, while offering grudging respect to those who subvert expectations (e.g., Justin Bieber’s stripped-down set).
- His chief critique is the adult refusal to mature—celebrities in denial about age and festival-goers who blow their savings on transient experience.
- Despite the cynicism, there’s genuine engagement with real performance choices (Bieber), understanding of cultural controversies (Sabrina Carpenter), and wit that cuts through viral nonsense and celebrity self-parody.
- In essence: “Grow up. If you're going to dress like a clown... that's a you problem, my friends.” (16:01)
