David Archuleta went shirtless to EDC & addressed social media critics

Singer-songwriter and American Idol alum David Archuleta attended the 2024 EDC festival in Las Vegas this past weekend. But after sharing photos and videos from his experience, the "Hell Together" singer felt the need to address people who didn't approve of his posts.

The recently out, ex-Mormon went shirtless on the final day and thanked "all of the kind ravers who danced alongside me, said hi and complimented my outfits, traded kandy (bracelets)," and the "straight dudes with their girlfriends just coming up and fist bumping me saying they can tell I’ve been working hard at the gym." Those guys "made my day," Archuleta wrote, "because sometimes it's a few step forwards and then some steps backwards with the gym lmao."

Archuleta went on to say that the festival's PLUR culture (peace, love, unity, respect) teaches people "how to not be judgmental and that there are other ways of being together, finding community and being one in a moment together."

Hours later, he posted a follow-up on Instagram of just text. This time, he was seemingly addressing some followers who might've been upset by his posts at EDC.

"Not everyone may understand what the reason for the heavy beat and the visuals and lights is for at EDM fests or raves," he wrote. "I know most of my audience I've built over the years came from when I was very reserved and conservative myself. So that's why I I like to explain what I do. It's not to apologize for who I am, but sometimes it is a bit odd to post new experiences I'm having and where I'm at now when it's very different from previous years and what people relate to me for before. It's not what a lot of my audience expects out of me. I like to show a bit of perspective of why I choose to do what I do or how I am expressing myself now. So I get that it's not everyone's cup of tea."

Archeluta concluded, "You're welcome to the journey to follow along but you're also welcome to choose not to and that's ok. We like to surround ourselves with what we relate to and I know what I do isn't as relatable to many of you as before vs more relatable for others of you now following me. Regardless, I hope each and every one of you can live your best life and find what makes you feel happy, understood, accepted, and true to you. I'm enjoying my process and journey of that myself."

We love this journey for you, Archie!