Kanye West Refused To Perform At Coachella Unless They Built Him A Giant Dome

By Julia Lennox. Published: 12 Jan 2019 6:05 PM Last updated: 12 Jan 2019 6:09 PM

— Dominique Maitre/WWD/REX/Shutterstock

Kanye West will not perform at Coachella this year.

Negotiations broke down between Goldenvoice — the production company behind the annual music festival in Indio, Calif. — and the 41-year-old due to stage design.

West apparently refused to perform on a traditional 60×40 foot stag” as it would be artistically limiting, while Goldenvoice stood firm in its commitment to minimizing disruptions during the festival. The publication notes that accommodating the controversial rapper’s request for a separate stage would “compromise the other acts.”

A source told Billboard that West wanted a giant dome designed by his collaborator John McGuire in the middle of the festival grounds. Coachella co-founder Paul Tollett reportedly told West it would be impossible to construct such a stage on four months notice and it would force the festival to remove a large portion of porta-potties.

West was said to have hung up on Tollett. Festival organizers were in conversation with Ariana Grande’s manager Scooter Braun by the end of the day to have the songstress replace West.

The powerhouse producer previously performed on a floating stage throughout his Saint Pablo tour in 2016.

Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, and Tame Impala were later announced as this year’s headliners. Justin Timberlake was expected to headline, but a vocal chord injury forced him off the event and elevated Tame Impala to headline status. The 20th-anniversary event takes place from April 12 to 14 and April 19 to 21.