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Two former ice hockey players detail their failed experience working Frank Ocean’s polarizing Coachella performance.
Brothers Dan and Chris Powers were booked to perform alongside over 100 other skaters during Ocean’s set Sunday (April 16). The singer has since headlined the second weekend of the California festival.
on his podcast, empty nettersThe pair alleged that despite months of preparation, Ocean decided to pull off the elaborate performance hours before it was due to take the stage.
A spokesperson for Ocean declined to comment when contacted. Independent.
The pair said that the issues started immediately on the day when the buses taking the skaters to the festival were running late. In the end, he says, only 30 of the 120 performers took the stage and did so on foot after the ice rink was rebuilt.
Dan said, “Those figure skaters weren’t cut because there was a problem with the ice, not because there was something wrong.”
(Getty Images)
“There was nothing wrong. He [Ocean] Just straight-up was like, ‘F*** this. I am not doing it now.’ And [to] these 120 people [he] Got off the bus here, he was just like, ‘You guys ain’t talking shit anymore.’ So it was kind of a wild flip.
The pair both said they were particularly shocked by the switch because working with Ocean on the choreography had been an overwhelmingly positive experience.
“He really cares about the production, he had a very clear vision and even though that vision changed a lot, he was always there, helping us, making sure everyone was in his mind. What I was portraying was a hit,” Chris said.
“Throughout all the rehearsals, he was so fun, he was so interesting… He was so cool, he was cool with everyone, teaching them to sing his songs,” Dan said.
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On Wednesday, Ocean announced he was pulling out of headlining the second weekend of Coachella due to a foot injury he sustained prior to his first headline set.
“It was chaotic,” Ocean said of the performance in his statement. “There is some beauty in chaos. It’s not what I wanted to show but I enjoyed being there and I’ll see you soon.”
Diversity reports that Blink-182 is set to replace the R&B star in Sunday’s headline slot.
Ocean’s opening title performance was met with criticism from fans after the singer was over an hour late, meaning he was forced to wrap up the set early due to strict curfew rules.
Justin Bieber later defended the performance, arguing that the singer’s “artistry is unmatched”.
