Glastonbury Headliner Charli XCX Defends Autotune Use, Dismisses Fraud Claims

Charli XCX has responded boldly to critics who questioned her authenticity following her headlining performance at Glastonbury’s Other Stage. The 32-year-old pop star dismissed accusations that her use of autotune makes her “a fraud,” calling such criticisms outdated and uninspired.

Performing to a massive crowd on Saturday night (28.06.25), Charli’s show was widely praised for its energy and creativity, contrasting with Pyramid Stage headliner Neil Young’s more subdued set. The performance, streamed live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, sparked debate online. Some viewers criticized Charli for relying on autotune and backing tracks instead of traditional live instrumentation.

Rejecting these judgments on social media platform X, Charli wrote, “Really enjoying these boomer vibe comments on my Glastonbury performance. It’s super fascinating to me. The idea that singing with deliberate autotune makes you a fraud, or that not having a traditional band means you can’t be a real artist, is honestly the most boring take ever. Yawn, sorry, just fell asleep xx.”

She added, “I enjoy the discourse. In my opinion, the best art is divisive and confrontational, often evolving into truly interesting culture rather than being kind of okay, easily understood, and forgettable.”

Her set featured tracks predominantly from her acclaimed album Brat, including singles like “Apple,” “Von Dutch,” “I Might Say Something Stupid,” and “360.” Charli also mixed in fan favorites like “Party 4 U” and “I Love It,” plus the Brat bonus track “Guess.” A surprise moment came when singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams appeared on the big screens performing the viral “Apple dance” from TikTok.

Closing the show theatrically, Charli sipped wine and danced in cascading onstage rain, leaving a lasting impression. As the performance ended, screens flashed messages: “Thank you so much Glastonbury. So we burnt it down, does that mean Brat is finally over? Maybe it is. But probably not. We had to do it and it looked cool. I think you have all proven that Brat is forever. And honestly, I don’t know who I am if it’s over.”