Kanye West drops out of Coachella music festival shortly before he was set to headline: report

Author: Editors Desk Source: NY Daily News:

April 4, 2022 at 14:27

Kanye West performs at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. in 2019. (Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Kanye West is changing his tune.

The “College Dropout” rapper is dropping out of his headlining performance at this month’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., TMZ reported Monday.

West, who now goes by the name Ye, hasn’t offered an explanation for the change in plans, nor has he publicly announced the decision.

His set was reportedly expected to feature an appearance by fellow rapper Travis Scott. It would be Scott’s first performance at a music festival since 10 people died after the crowd surged at his Astroworld event in Houston last November.

Kanye West (Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Ralph Lauren)

West’s reported absence creates a headliner void for Coachella, which is scheduled to take place during the back-to-back weekends of April 15-17 and April 22-24.

Coachella organizers also haven’t commented on the situation. Representatives for West and Coachella didn’t immediately respond to a Daily News request for comment.

The other headliners at the 2022 edition of Coachella include Harry Styles and Billie Eilish, while Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Karol G, 21 Savage, Phoebe Bridgers and Swedish Mafia House are among the big-name acts also on the lineup.

West had been scheduled to perform on both Sundays of the festival.

Kanye West performs at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. in 2019. (Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

In February, the rapper threatened to bail on Coachella if Eilish didn’t apologize for what West considered a jab at Scott. Eilish stopped a concert in February while a fan received medical attention and told the crowd, “I wait for people to be OK until I keep going.”

West also urged Eilish to apologize to Scott in an Instagram post at the time.

The 44-year-old West is in the midst of a highly publicized divorce from Kim Kardashian, whom he married in 2014 and has four kids with. Kardashian’s new relationship with “Saturday Night Live” comedian Pete Davidson has repeatedly been a point of contention for West.

The rapper is known for songs such as “Jesus Walks,” “All of the Lights,” “Runaway” and “Stronger.” He has won 24 Grammys in his career after being awarded two more during Sunday’s ceremony at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

West was reportedly barred from performing at Sunday’s show. Grammys host Trevor Noah was critical on “The Daily Show” of West’s behavior during his divorce, prompting a biting response from the rapper. Noah later tweeted, “I said counsel Kanye not cancel Kanye.”

This year marks a big return for the Coachella music festival, which was canceled the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. West performed at the last Coachella festival in 2019.