Kanye West pulled out of Coachella because the festival refused to build him a giant dome
Within 24 hours of West withdrawing from the festival, Ariana Grande had been secured as a replacement
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Your support makes all the difference.Kanye West withdrew from performing at Coachella due to a disagreement over a giant dome.
According to Billboard, West introduced the demand just two days before the headliners for the festival were announced, asking that, instead of performing on the main Coachella stage, he do his set from within a giant, custom-built dome in the middle of the festival grounds.
The dome would be designed by West collaborator and set designer John McGuire.
When senior executives from Coachella organisers Goldenvoice explained that the dome would be impossible to build in four months and would require the entire festival site to be rearranged to remove a large section of portable bathrooms, West reportedly became irritated and declared that he was an artist with a creative vision and should not need to be discussing port-a-potties.
Before the end of the day, sources state that co-founder Paul Tollett was already in talks with Ariana Grande to secure her as a replacement, with her involvement confirmed less than 24 hours later.
Meanwhile, Australian rock band Tame Impala were promoted to headliners in December to replace Justin Timberlake, who was forced to drop out due to schedule conflicts, having had to reschedule tour dates due to bruised vocal cords.
Coachella takes place over two weekends, 12-14 April and 19-21 April, and is celebrating its 20th season this year. This year’s festival sold out its initial release of tickets in six hours, versus three hours last year.
A representative for West has been contacted for comment.
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