Report: Kanye West pulled out of Coachella over its refusal to build him a giant dome

Scott Dudelson/FilmMagicKanye West pulled out of Coachella just two days before he was set to be announced as a headliner for the April event, reportedly because festival organizers refused to build a giant dome for him, a source tells Billboard.

West allegedly became “irritated” when senior executives from Coachella’s parent company, Goldenvoice, explained that the dome would be impossible to build in four months, and that it would also require the concert promoter to rearrange the entire festival site and remove a large section of portable bathrooms. According to the insider, Kanye insisted he was “an artist with a creative vision who shouldn’t be spending his time talking about port-a-potties.”

West had taken the call while on vacation with his family, says the source, adding the rapper said “it was Goldenvoice’s responsibility to deal with the bathrooms. He then hung up abruptly.”

That’s reportedly when Coachella co-founder Paul Tollett reached out to Ariana Grande‘s manager Scooter Braun, who lined up the “thank u, next” singer within 24 hours of West pulling out of the festival.

West’s complaint about Coachella’s mainstage was that it wasn’t big enough for his performance. However, sources say Goldenvoice officials pointed out that past headliners, including Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, had staged “stunning performances with hundreds of dancers and musicians” on the main stage, adding that it’s “one of the largest stages in North America.”

It’s not the first time West has backed out of a gig at the last minute, according to Billboard. Kanye was also close to headlining New York’s annual Governors Ball, only to have promoters turn down his last-minute dome request a day before the lineup was announced.