Just days after the 2017 lineup for blockbuster music festival Coachella dropped online, it came to light that its founder Philip Anschutz had been a longtime donor to anti-LGBTQ groups.
Pitchfork has reported that according to the 77-year-old’s tax records, Anschutz’s philanthropic foundation has donated to one such group, called Alliance Defending Freedom, as recently as 2015.
Anschutz and his company AEG Live (that runs Coachella through subsidiary Goldenvoice) have shot down the reports, characterizing them as “fake news,” “garbage” and a smear campaign perpetrated by competitors. “I unequivocally support the rights of all people without regard to sexual orientation,” Anschutz said in a statement, adding, “when it has come to my attention or the attention of The Anschutz Foundation that certain organizations either the Foundation or I have funded have been supporting such causes, we have immediately ceased all contributions to such groups.”
In response to the funding accusations, pressure has been mounting on this year’s festival headline acts to redress the balance and donate their paychecks for performing at the festival to support LGBTQ groups.
A petition set up by transgender woman and LGBTQ activist Sarah Rose surpassed 7,000 signatures as of Friday morning:
“As a transgender woman and advocate for the LGBTQ community, my genuine hope is that these artists can turn a bad situation into a positive one. I’m a diehard music fan and a musician myself, and I strongly believe that music shouldn’t be used as a means to discriminate.”
The petition states “Coachella drew nearly 200,000 attendees last year, generating almost $85 million, a portion of which we now know went to organizations actively fighting to deny human rights to LGBTQ people.” The petition closes by urging all three headliners, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé and Radiohead to donate their fees to LGBTQ support groups.
None of the acts have responded to the petition yet.
Coachella will take place on April 14-16 and April 21-23 this year.
I all about lyrics and hard beats real hip hop heads know what time it is. I don’t care about this stuff, let’s keep it about hip hop and and leave the politics alone, if a hip hop head wants politics we listen to dead prez, public enemy and nwa.
Politics has always been a part of hip hop. Time to take off the beats and read a book sir so you can join real discussions.
Gtfoh.your mum sucks donkey dick
How you going to say leave the politics alone and than mention dead prez, public enemy and n.w.a. in the same sentence??? The same sentence! WTF is wrong with you?
I’m old school my cd collection is probably bigger than yours and I probably been to more hip hop shows than you, if I don’t like it I don’t listen and I don’t need the internet to tell me what to think.
Gay Mafia?
Ah? NO!! maybe they can choose to donate some of the pay if they want to but asking them to perform for free is ridiculous,
That unfair to the artists who have to make time and also pay for there entire entourage. I’d say the best way to go about it is not force them or bully them to donate their pay. It would be better to ask them and work something out.
I wouldn’t donate shit to them, raise your own money and stop whining and complaining to the government, “they wouldn’t make a cake for our same sex union” GTFOH…
Niccaz could continue succin azz and dicc for free. Fucc they donating they cash to u queer azz niccaz for? Ask Young Man & Frank Open to donate they bread. What is the money gonna do for them fruits?
Fuck these f a g s just because one guys actions other people should have to lose paychecks? Heres an idea go out and work for it and raise he money yourselfs you fucking freeloading f a g g o t a
this is crazy, im totally cool with supporting any good cause…but for someone to say they should give up their whole pay check is just bonkers….fuck outta here, how much is your ass donating bitch
Gay People Need Money For Condoms And Aids Medication Lets Help Them Out
They need more money to spread the word that being gay is ok and not to beat them up for being whiney and gay all the time
I told yall Kednrick is gay af, this weirdo ass nigga sus. stop dissing Young Thug, he has a hot bitch and 12 kids…. how is that nigga gay huh? skrrt
So, let’s get this “straight.” If you work at Chick-Fil-A & support LGBTQ rights, then you should donate your pay to that movement since the founder of Chick-Fil-A is an opponent of those same rights? That’s ludicrous, shameful entitlement. I support LGBTQ rights. I don’t like the music of the listed artists, & I’ve never been, nor do I care to ever attend Coachella. This is just wrong.
If you support them then you are part of the problem. So Go fuck yourself you freak
If that’s the case, can somebody donate to the straight community cuz a nigga hurtin as well.
Balance? Donate their paychecks? What Beyonce or Kendrick has to do with Anschutz’s personal preferences? Or do LGBTQ activist think that by appearing at Coachella they indirectly endorse his alleged anti-LGBTQ attitude? If so, why don’t they ask them to simply refuse to perform? Or it’s okay as long as they pass the money to support their agenda? I wholeheartedly hope if both artists refuse it doesn’t turn into a witch hunt where a minor but very vocal group do anything they can to throw dirt on their names. I would be surprised if they didn’t knuckle under to their demands, considering that bad PR would probably cost more on the long run than their one-time Coachella fee.
mmmmmm No thanks. They aren’t performing for free and shouldn’t be under pressure to donate their pay. They should donate if they want not be under pressure OR JUST DON’T PERFORM.
Hey some guy did something that I don’t like, can you pay for it?
The nerve of these fuckin people, such entitlement. Aren’t we supposed to be allowed to have our own individual views? If the LGBTSJCXNZ9!$ what-the fuck-evers don’t like what the founder of Coachella believes, then don’t attend his events! And feel free to go ahead and throw your OWN events instead, with one bathroom for everyone.
“don’t attend his events! And feel free to go ahead and throw your OWN events instead, with one bathroom for everyone.” – That would be them controlling their own actions. They’re more interested in controlling yours.
you funny. money is speech, remember? sooner or later some group you claim allegiance to will get dissed and you’ll be expecting whatever famous people have been unknowingly doing so to rep for you. and if you think you’re so just and egalitarian you shouldn’t have posted in the first place.
No not everyone is a whiny bitch ass fucking snowflake.
All of these comments are obviously posted by trolls belonging to organizations funded by old conservative right wing white people lol. Hiphopdx has been infiltrated by it since the election. I’m going to be bringing this story to mainstream news very soon.
I’m not part of an organization my comment is my own opinion and has nothing to due with Trump. Just goes to showthat the fucking liberals of the world have no evidence to back up what they are trying to get across. Go to your safe space if youbdont like it you fucking snowflake
Before trump , I never saw comments on this site , spewing such hate. Really sad to see hiphopdx being used and abused by trolls funded by pro white , pro family values organizations
You can’t be serious…how long you been coming here or any comments section? Your ignorance to associate the shitty qualities of people with the president is dumb as fuck man. Internet trolling didn’t start with Donald Trump, and you should be embarrassed to suggest such nonsense cuz you’re butthurt your pick didn’t win. And for he record I don’t vote so no I’m not a trump supporter, just a rational person who sees things how they are and not how I’m told they are. I seriously can’t believe how stupid your post is.
Your a fucking dumbass Trump has nothing to due with peoples opinions. If you don’t like them go to your safe place with your pin you fucking snowflake
All of these comments , this is what you would see in Russia. Welcome to the end of the USA.
Why orbit the end of the USA. Everyone that is commenting is useing their right to free speech. You fucking dumbass liberal pos.
Yea I did notice that these commenters only come out when there is a way to bash pro black rights and the LGBT community. Hiphopdx should be ashamed that they’ve let their sites comments section turn to a tool used by hate groups. Can’t believe your ancestors swung in trees so that you could sit idly by and let this happen. Anything for a check though !
Oooh. But don’t you dare say anything negative about Drake, Jlo, OVO etc. Then Danielle Harding and the rest of their journalists will be deleting your comments, stat!!!
FUCK FAKE DRAKE!
Yall tripping if you saying the comments just got hate filled when trump got in office!!! THATS A LIE!!!! INTERNET TROLLS BEEN IN THE COMMENT SECTION ACTING LIKE @$$HOLES SINCE THE INTERNET CAME OUT!!! And I hate Trump and all he stands for (except the tax breaks for capital gains and investment distributions) But yall tripping INTERNET TROLLS BEEN ON THE INTERNET SHOWING THERE INSECURITIES!!!
” they get that much money per show?” ” lets start a protest” gtfoh
-fudgepackers
i bet you think you love lesbians though, with their hot urethra on urethra action…and they like butt-play too ya know.
Don’t count what is in another person’s pockets and you will be a happier person!!! And to ask somebody or tell somebody how they should spend they money is crazy!!! People so self righteous and entitled that they think they have a valid point to try and tell somebody what they should do with they money!!! I don’t care what the cause is!!!! That’s way out of bounds!!!! INTERNET TROLL LIKE ACTULLY (showing your insecurities to the whole world!!!!)
Nope. Most backwards ass thing ive heard in awhile
FUCK that when groups start paying my bills then they can tell me what to do with my money, till then FUCK off!
This is stupid. These guys work for their money and the should not be compelled to donate to anyone. It’s hard work putting a performance, why donate the money if they don’t want to? People should stop telling other people what to make with their money…
Also, Philip Anschutz has the right to donate to whoever he wants.
Sarah Rose, probably just wants a piece of that money.
I Thought EXTORTION was illegal. Probably shouldn’t have gone public with it if they expected to get a dime.
If the founder’s contributions are really that problematic to fans, said fans shouldn’t attend the event. Just boycott it. If the founder’s contributions are really that problematic to artists, don’t perform at Coachella ever again. Just boycott it. Why is Mr. Rose tapping Beyonce’s and Kendrick’s, and for that matter ANYONE’s pockets?
Wow. The comments section is full of comments on the comments section. LOL. Anyways, what do the artists have to do with the donations the event’s subsidiary company has made? Retarded. Also, “TRANSGENDER WOMAN”? LOL. What chromosomes does this “WOMAN” have? Does he get his period? Can he get pregnant? Is this just PMS? So many questions for Mr. Superqueer. LOL
Donate to the gays but not the communities who need it most, you know the black organizations and grassroots level leaders making real changes in these streets. Yeah donate to the gays, the ones who already have dough because they were President Obama’s focus during this last 4 year’s, foh musical puppets
If you talking about the non or the black Panthers they are raceist terrorist groups
If I cut off my dogs penis and put him in a dress, is he now a female dog? This has become so ridiculous. If you are a guy that is in to guys, great. If you want to change your name to Sissy Suxxcok and wear makeup, pot in some silicone tits, that’s rad. You are not, and never will be, a WOMAN though. Get pregnant. Please. That I would like to see. I’m supposed to respect your permanent gay cosplay? I’m going to tattoo a permenet black face on. Now I’m black. I want affirmative action. Call me Tyrone. I will avoid the police now. LOL
Lmfao
best comment ive read
under pressure, from who, tell them to go hell and back!! how can anyone or organization tell you what to do with your $$!!
Sign of the times. Conform or else. Tolerance only with if it benefits me.
Hahahahahahahaha…. What a load of gay garbage. Getting bullied by a bunch of sissies. What has our society become?
If we’re one of the headliners. I would donate. But not my whole paycheck. Probably like 30℅.
Gay ass fool
I wouldn’t donate shit to those abominations
Plus.. there are PLENTY OF LGBTQ . Who are STILL gonna go. DF
trannies want into the gay rights arena so badly
WTF?!?
If they donate 1 penny I will never support them again. These gays need to go do something with their lives. Who do they think they are telling anybody what to do with their money? FOH homos
Don’t give a Damn about Yall signitures..Why the hell they gotta donate to weirdos for?
Then ask the festival managers to donate money since it’s THEM who have donated to anti LGBQT groups not the headliners. The audacity of these ppl to ask them to donate their paychecks on behalf of a grown ass man who’s a bigot. Figures this happens when there are two BLACK headliners. These are just a bunch of jealous white ppl who so happen to be gay who want black ppl to give up their big payday. Entitled psychos.
way to start making a valid point and then expose yourself as a giant racist idiot
thought this country was a democracy….
let’s recall a few points from the article. 7000 signatures in the grand scheme is nothing… just someone stomping their feet for attention. Dude said if his people are donating to groups that support anti people being people groups, then he cuts off funding.. cool, move on. If he openly says fuck people for who they are then sure, make a scene but if you can’t prove shit then that means you ain’t got shit
The lgbtq need to stop being whiny little bitch was snowflakes. Why should an artist have to donate all there paycheck to right what they think is wrong. I think there cause is wrong should they have to give there paychecks to me or anyone elset to right what we think is wrong…… Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Leviticus 18:22.