Music
Coachella owner is an anti-LGBTQ climate change denier
by Jeremy Mersereau
January 5, 2017
Philip Anschutz has donated to hate groups, thinks climate change is a hoax, and is generally a bad man.
Earlier this week, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival released the (somewhat innaccurate) lineup for its 2017 edition, and it includes expected megastar headliners like Beyoncé, Radiohead, and Kendrick Lamar. When you picture the individual who ultimately controls the Indio, California festival, you probably think of a laid-back, Dude-esque hippie type, and not a extreme right-winger who funnels thousands of dollars from his billions to anti-LGBTQ and climate-change denial groups… but you’d be wrong.
Philip Anschutz is the owner of Anschutz Entertainment Group, or AEG, the company which owns and operates a multitude of venues and sports teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and the Clippers. Under its AEG Live brand, it manages many live music and entertainment concerns, including the Coachella-organizing operation Goldenvoice. Going by his political donations, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say Anschutz’s views are diametrically opposed to the average Coachella attendee’s: as per the Washington Post, Anschutz has donated money to anti-gay orgs such as the Alliance Defending Freedom, the National Christian Foundation, and the Family Research Council.
Climate change is also an interest of Anschutz’s, in that he’s a firm denialist and regularly meets with the Koch brothers to discuss strategy. In addition, Anschutz has supported other such noble causes as the weakening of labour unions and disputing evolutionary science.
Artists and fans planning to head to Indio, California for the festival (which, of course, regularly trades on its aura of inclusivity and freedom of expression) should consider just how their money contributes to other interests down the line.
[H/t Consequence of Sound]
