Lorde Calls Meta AI Glasses 'Not Sexy' During Madrid Festival Set
Pop star Lorde publicly denounced Meta's AI glasses during her performance at the Mad Cool Festival in Madrid on July 10, 2026, calling them 'not sexy' and warning about the erosion of reality. She urged the audience not to purchase the devices, which have been criticized by privacy experts as a surveillance risk. Lorde's comments come amid growing concerns over smart glasses being used for harassment and extortion. Meta faces multiple lawsuits over privacy violations, including allegations that Kenyan workers were forced to watch graphic footage captured with the glasses to train AI. Despite this, EssilorLuxottica reported selling over 7 million Meta AI glasses in 2025, more than triple the combined sales of 2023 and 2024. Lorde's critique was likely influenced by festival sponsor Ray-Ban, which partners with Meta, and by performing before Jennie, a Ray-Ban Meta ambassador.
Key facts
- Lorde criticized Meta AI glasses during a set at Mad Cool Festival in Madrid on July 10, 2026.
- She stated the glasses are 'not sexy' and contribute to confusion about what is real.
- Privacy experts have deemed the glasses a privacy nightmare.
- Meta faces investigations and lawsuits over privacy violations, including allegations of using Kenyan workers to watch graphic videos.
- EssilorLuxottica sold over 7 million Meta AI glasses in 2025.
- Ray-Ban, a festival sponsor, partners with Meta to make AI glasses.
- Singer Jennie, who performed after Lorde, is an ambassador for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
- Lorde previously wrote about throwing her phone into the ocean.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Meta
- Ray-Ban
- EssilorLuxottica
- Mad Cool Festival
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain