When Justin Bieber went Live on Twitch this week, few expected the Baby singer to stir a hornet’s nest of controversy about fake viewership in the streaming world. The pop icon’s Twitch debut on October 22, 2025, began innocently enough: a game of basketball, a round of billiards, and a tour of his sprawling warehouse-turned-studio.
Yet, with fewer than 10,000 live viewers despite over 100 million X followers, Bieber’s modest turnout became a lightning rod for accusations that Twitch’s biggest stars, including Kai Cenat, might be enjoying audiences bloated by bots. Bieber promised during his hour-long broadcast on the first day:
We’re going to be doing this pretty much every day, so make sure you tune in. It’s going to be awesome.
Screenshots of his October 24 stream, which peaked at 8,880 viewers, ignited debate across social media. Some fans argued the low number reflected Twitch’s niche audience. While others argue that if an A-list celebrity like Bieber can barely pull 10,000 live viewers, then those sky-high numbers flaunted by top Twitch streamers are undeniably padded with bots.
Let’s see a few fans’ comments:
If an A list celeb like Beiber got less than 10k watching live that's proof these other large twitch streamers 100% bot. https://t.co/FZDUdrAa5k
Justin Bieber promotes his @Twitch stream to 107 MILLION+ followers (on X alone).
He gets < 10k viewers.
This should tell you A LOT about who has been FAKING VIEWS on @Twitch.
If I've EVER advertised on there, I would be FUMING right now.
Demanding my money back even. pic.twitter.com/TYZUHTdGEq
I guess Kai Cenat asking for donations for a month is more powerful than one of the most followed stars on instagram, 10 x this viewcount hell 20x sometimes
anytime i mention a streamer on a dead game with 10,000 live viewers being sus, i just get told i'm a hater 🤣
Did you really believe thousands were watching a nerd like sneako neon
Bieber’s Twitch reality check raised an uncomfortable question: Was authenticity losing to algorithmic trickery?
Kai Cenat and Top Twitch Streamers Lose Views After Platform Targets Fake Engagement?
In August 2025, Twitch quietly struck at the heart of inflated engagement. The platform rolled out new code to hunt down “viewbots”, phantom spectators designed to inflate numbers and trick advertisers (per Forbes). Within weeks, thousands of creators saw their view counts plummet. Analyst Zach Bussey reported that the site’s top 5,000 streamers had logged their lowest-performing streams of the year, with viewership plunging by 5% to 22%.
While Twitch disputed Bussey’s data, insisting “viewership is by no means in decline or in free fall,” the digital tremors were undeniable. Félix Lengyel (xQc) observed that streamers tied to large content groups were hit hardest, hinting at paid bot services used to boost metrics.
Nazar Babenko of Steam Charts added fuel to the fire, revealing that over 41,000 Twitch channels displayed “clear, persistent signs of viewbotting.” His findings painted a grim picture: advertisers losing millions, smaller creators losing faith, and trust slipping through Twitch’s fingers like water through a sieve.
Bussey later noted that some streamers’ numbers rebounded, but a Twitch spokesperson confirmed that “no rollbacks” had been made, only that “viewbotter services work hard to evade detection.” The irony? While Bieber’s real-time audience seemed small, his transparency might’ve revealed a much bigger story hiding behind inflated dashboards.
Justin Bieber Returns to Coachella as 2026 Headliner With $10 Million Deal?
Even as his Twitch debut sparked debate, Justin Bieber has been busy building his next empire offline. In September 2025, Coachella announced its 2026 lineup, with Bieber joining Sabrina Carpenter, Anyma, and Karol G as headliners. His performances are slated for April 11 and 18, 2026. Speaking candidly during his livestream, Bieber teased:
I’m putting on a hell of a show for you guys for Coachella, getting ready, and getting inspired.
Per Rolling Stone, the pop star negotiated the $10 million deal independently, $5 million per weekend, cementing his transition into a self-managed powerhouse. A source close to the deal described it as “a once-in-a-generation spectacle from a once-in-a-generation pop icon.” The source added:
It’s a groundbreaking move for a headliner, and it’s something he built entirely on his own. Between headlining Coachella and the success of Swag, it’s clear this is the start of an exciting new era for Justin — one where he’s fully in the driver’s seat.
Coachella 2026 marks Bieber’s first time headlining the festival, though longtime fans remember his cameo moments, joining Ariana Grande in 2019, Daniel Caesar in 2022, and Tems in 2024.
Anyway, do you think Bieber’s real numbers speak louder than inflated fame? Drop your thoughts below!
