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Thousands of people have signed an online petition demanding that rapper Kanye West’s headline slot at Glastonbury Festival be cancelled.
Neil Lonsdale from Norfolk sent an e-letter to the Eavis family on change.org , asking that they reverse their decision to book an “egotistical, maniacal disgrace” and “get a rock band” instead.
More than 55,500 supporters have added their signatures to the petition, which describes the “Touch the Sky” star as “an insult to music fans all over the world”.
“We spend hundreds of pounds to attend Glasto, and by doing so, expect a certain level of entertainment,” the message reads.
“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!”
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014Show all 65 1 /65In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A woman kicks water in a puddle at the Glastonbury Festival
Getty Images
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Fans enjoy the music as US singer Dolly Parton performs on the Pyramid Stage, on the final day of the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People gather below the Glastonbury sign at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Performers in the Theatre Field at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People gather at Arcadia at Worthy Farm in Pilton during the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Storms gather above the farm
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 ...while some take shelter
Reuters
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The crowd enjoy a spell of sunshine
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In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A wheelbarrow filled with rubbish sits near the Pyramid stage
Reuters
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A man pulls his child in a trailer
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In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A man dressed in an orange suit watches Robert Plant on the Pyramid stage
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In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festivalgoers watch a laser show and pyrotechnics
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In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Revellers take part in a 'random karaoke' in the 'Shangri-La' area
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In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Children wearing ear defenders on 27 June 2014
Reuters
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The sun sets at Glastonbury Festival on 27 June 2014.
AFP/Getty Images
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Lightning in the sky over the Pyramid Stage shortly before it had to be powered down for safety reasons
PA
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers jump in mud at Worthy Farm during the 2014 Glastonbury Festival on June 27
Getty Images Europe
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Flags flying high in the crowd at The Other Stage during a rare burst of sunshine
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In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 As is tradition the heavens opened as a heavy rain storm hit the festival
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In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The crowd enjoys the atmosphere during day 1 of the Glastonbury Festival
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In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers watch Blondie performing on the Other Stage, at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
Matt Crossick
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The crowd watching the Kaiser Chiefs on the Other Stage, at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers shelter from the rain at the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Women during a rain shower at the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A woman walks during a rain shower at the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A group of festival goers sit in a nest as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near Pilton in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers enjoy the sun ahead of predicted rain as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near Pilton in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Bluebell, aged 14 months from Norfolk, looks around as her mother takes part in an open-air yoga session in the Green Fields, as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near Pilton in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A child stands beside plastic cow provided by a mobile telecoms company enabling free wifi for festival goers as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near Pilton in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A sculpture by Banksy, entitled 'The Sirens of the Lambs', depicting a truck full of shrieking cuddly animals being driven to slaughter, drives around the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A group of blacksmiths make tools on-site as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near Pilton in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A festival goer uses a hula hoop, as revelers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
Getty Images
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A man blows a bubble as the gates open at the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People gather to watch the sun set at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The sun begins to set over the Tipi field, ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A couple takes a photo while people gather to watch the sun set at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A general atmosphere during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A man in a glowing suit walks among festival goers, as revelers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A man in a spacesuit jumps from one of the standing stones in the stone circle, as revelers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A girl uses a glowing hula hoop, as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 An Airstream caravan that has been parked at the Pop-Up Hotel, which offers festival goers alternative luxury camping close to the Glastonbury Festival site - offering a array of facilities such as a reception and waiting area, 200-seat restaurant and bar, luxury showers, make-up areas, hairdresser and on on-site spa - is seen on the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers enjoy the fine weather as the gates open at the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People sit in the sunshine as the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People enjoy the fine weather as the gates open at the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People enjoythe hot weather at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
PA
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A woman relaxes in a hammock during the hot weather at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A view of the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A festival goer erects a tipi at Worthy Farm in Somerset during the first day of the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A woman adorns her tent with flags from different nations to celebrate the World Cup, at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers arrive with their tents and drink supplies as the gates open at the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers arrive at Worthy Farm in Pilton for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers arrive at Worthy Farm in Pilton for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Stewards open the gates to ticket holders at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Dancers at Arcadia rehearse at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The sun shines through the Ribbon Tower in The Park at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People arrive for the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers help unload a charter coach as they arrive at Worthy Farm in Pilton for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Bryan Patterson (28) from Liverpool queues to get into Worthy Farm in Pilton for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Gates opened at the Somerset dairy farm that plays host to one of the largest music festivals in the world
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Two women share a kiss below the Ribbon Tower in The Park at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers arrive for the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers (L to R) Liz, Lauren and Hannah, all from London, relax upon arriving for the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People walk through the site at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers board trains at Paddington station to travel to Castle Cary station for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers board trains at Paddington station to travel to Castle Cary station for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
Many of those in favour of banning Kanye from Glastonbury believe that hip-hop has no place at Worthy Farm and that the rapper does not represent the festival’s traditional values.
“Did you see Kanye on the Brits ?”, one angry fan wrote. “Forty people jumping up and down in the dark on stage is not the standard expected from the raw, live, electrifying experience of Glastonbury.”
Others were wary of the idea of having “[Kanye’s reality TV star wife] Kim, the entourage and crew waltzing around”, while one joked about the Jeremy Clarkson fiasco , suggesting that if Kanye “can’t be removed from the bill he should be forced to do community service in the form of outside catering for Top Gear ”.
Michael Eavis announces that Kanye West will headline Glastonbury (Emily Eavis) Lonsdale told NME that he has never been to Glastonbury but has a ticket to the festival for 2015. “I fought the temptation to scream and instead opted to hurl my iPhone across the room,” he said. “Two years ago we had The Rolling Stones playing the Saturday night and this year we get Kanye West? It’s an outrage!”
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Sign up A blog called “White People Angry About Kanye” has been set up on Tumblr to counteract the petition and mock criticism of Kanye. One of the bestselling artists of all-time, he has sold over 21 million albums and 66 million downloads worldwide.
Kanye follows fellow rapper Jay Z who sparked controversy by becoming the first hip-hop act to headline Glastonbury in 2008, a booking that Oasis’ Noel Gallagher branded “wrong”. Jay Z hit back by opening his performance with a cover of “Wonderwall”.
Kanye is one of a handful of acts confirmed for this year’s Glastonbury, along with Foo Fighters , Lionel Richie and the Dalai Lama . The rest of the line-up is expected to be revealed in April before the festival takes place from 24 to 28 June.
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