Lorde took aim at AI-powered smart glasses during her set at the Real Cool Festival in Madrid on Thursday, delivering an expletive-laden critique that has since gone viral across social media. While the New Zealand singer didn’t name any brand directly, her comments were widely interpreted as a shot at festival sponsor Ray-Ban and its collaboration with Meta on a line of AI smartglasses.

‘Fuck the Glasses’

According to footage shared on social media, Lorde paused her performance to thank the crowd for being part of “something real” before launching into her critique. She remarked that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to know what is and isn’t real, then added: “You don’t know if someone is wearing sunglasses or if they’re wearing those fucked up fucking… Can I just say, for the record, fuck the glasses. Don’t get the glasses. Not sexy.”

The outburst comes as Meta faces renewed scrutiny over its smart glasses line. The company has been hit with privacy concerns and regulatory backlash even as it pushes ahead with plans to expand the Ray-Ban Meta lineup.

A Growing Backlash Against AI Wearables

Lorde’s onstage comments reflect a broader cultural pushback against always-on wearable cameras and AI-enhanced accessories. Privacy advocates have long warned that discreet recording devices — especially those disguised as everyday fashion items — pose significant risks to personal privacy in public spaces.

Meta has reportedly been developing a new generation of “super sensing” glasses capable of continuous recording, raising the stakes even further. The company has faced backlash from European regulators over data collection practices associated with its smart glasses, and Lorde’s blunt dismissal adds a high-profile celebrity voice to the growing chorus of critics.

Awkward Festival Timing

The timing added an extra layer of irony: Lorde was followed on stage at Real Cool by Blackpink’s Jennie, who is a Ray-Ban Meta AI ambassador and has appeared in advertising campaigns for the product on Instagram and in video segments screened between festival sets.

The contrast between the two performers’ positions on the technology highlights the growing divide in how public figures are engaging with AI wearables — some embracing the partnerships and others pushing back against what they see as an erosion of genuine human connection.

What’s Next for Meta’s Smart Glasses

Despite the backlash, Meta shows no signs of slowing down its wearable AI ambitions. The company’s Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been one of its more successful hardware launches, and the planned “super sensing” upgrade suggests Meta sees smart glasses as a critical part of its post-smartphone strategy.

However, with voices like Lorde’s joining the conversation — and the very real possibility that festival-goers might think twice before buying a pair — Meta may find that winning over the court of public opinion is harder than perfecting the technology. As Lorde put it succinctly: not sexy.