We
all know Kanye West has his share of enemies — both domestically and
around the world. However, a British music lover has taken his ire with
the rapper to a new level:
He’s started an online petition to try and halt West’s headlining set at this year’s prestigious Glastonbury Festival in the UK.
So
far, nearly 60,000 people have signed the petition Neil Lonsdale posted
on change.org, in which he calling West an “egotistical maniacal
disgrace” unworthy of top billing.
“Kanye
West is an insult to music fans all over the world,” Lonsdale wrote.
“We spend hundreds of pounds to attend Glasto, and by doing so, expect a
certain level of entertainment. Kanye has been very outspoken on his
views on music….he should listen to his own advice and pass his headline
slot on to someone deserving! Let’s prevent this musical injustice
now!”
However biting the words may seem, Lonsdale’s primary argument is not
actually that West is controversial, arrogant, or inconsiderate. The
main thrust is that he doesn’t play rock music, and Glastonbury has
almost always featured rock headliners.
“Two
years ago we had the Rolling Stones playing the Saturday night and this
year we get Kanye West?” Lonsdale sputters in the petition. “It’s an
outrage. Get a rock band!”
Many who signed Lonsdale’s petition were, however, more upset about the
rapper’s cocky (and some say discriminatory) comments than the genre of
music he played. “I work at Glastonbury festival and would be utterly
ashamed to be associated with such a misogynistic, selfish, racist and
arrogant being as Kanye West,” wrote Eleanor Head of Otford, Kent, UK.
“Glastonbury Festival is about classic bands, not these sorts of hip-hop
artists.”
“I’m signing because I think Kanye West headlining Glasto is
outrageous,” wrote Liam Bignold of Bognor, Regis, UK. “The man has no
morals and has no talent.”
“He believes his career [is] some sort of public service, saying he is
like a soldier,” complained Ben Sutton of Sawtry, UK. “As a soldier,
that was my last straw. he is egotistical, stupid, unthoughtful and a
disastrous musician. He is the scum at top of the ladder.”
Some who posted on the petition site leaped to West’s defense, calling
the festival's decision to book a rap act headliner commendable. “I
doubt there are any rock bands that are as progressive, innovative, or
even popular as he is right now,” wrote Jordan Howes of the University
of Kent.
Added Dan Tennessee Ernie Beames: “[Everyone here says], ‘I don’t like
him!’ Lots of other people do. No one is forcing you to see him. There
are other bands that will cater to your tastes, and I 100 percent
guarantee you there will be tens of thousands of people in that field
absolutely loving him. Grow up.”
Festival organizer Michael Eavis was recently photographed smiling and holding up a sign featuring the words, “Yeezy does it!”
West is the first rap artist to headline Glastonbury since Jay-Z played
the festival in 2008. The festival runs from June 24 through June 28
and actually does feature a rock act: The Foo Fighters, who play the
night before West.
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