It didn't take long, but just moments after Kanye West was announced as the Saturday headliner on the Glastonbury 2015 lineup, a petition was started to get him removed from that slot.
It is not surprising for this petition to pop up. The relationship between hip-hop, notably hip-hop headliners and Glastonbury, has been strained. Jay Z played the final set on the Pyramid Stage in 2008 amid swirling controversy after the very outspoken Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher pronounced that a hip-hop artist should never headline Glasto. Jay Z came out to Oasis's hit "Wonderwall" and silenced the haters with a performance that is still discussed to this day.
In less than 24 hours, the petition has already picked up some momentum with over 17,000 signatures, but the reality is that it won't do anything. Kanye is an incredibly polarizing figure and is becoming increasingly so after each passing interview where he extols his own talents as an artist.
The petition reasons, "Kanye West is 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."
Some of the reasons for the signees vary from the crude -- like calling Kanye a "c*nt" -- to more answers like "Kanye sucks. I want to see real artistry. Someone like Beck" or "The man has no morals and has no talent."
The festival won't bow to the demands of a petition and this will only fuel Kanye to have an even bigger and better performance at Glasto this year. He could possibly bring out his UK collaborators Paul McCartney, Skepta and even Chris Martin if both artists want to do a Graduation throwback.
