The Weeknd Threatens To Pull Out Of Coachella If He Doesn’t Get Kanye’s $8.5M Paycheck

The Weeknd took Kanye West’s spot at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. If he isn’t paid the same as Kanye West, he has threatened to leave. The rapper pulled out of the festival less than two weeks before his scheduled appearance to seek therapy.

This followed his social media humiliation of Kim Kardashian and her boyfriend Pete Davidson. The Weeknd, 32, and dance music band ‘Swedish House Mafia’ will take Kanye’s slots on Sunday, April 17, and Sunday, April 24, according to Coachella organizers.

However, according to a source, the singer is still seeking the same amount as Kanye, reportedly $8.5 million plus an additional $500,000 in production costs. Coachella will take place on April 15-17 and 22-24 this year.

According to the insider, “The Weeknd came in at short notice to take Kanye’s top spot. But Phil Anschutz [who owns the Coachella Festival through AEG Live] wanted to hold on to Kanye’s money and pay The Weeknd far less, just a few million. The festival would pocket the rest.”

The ‘Sacrifice’ singer declined the offer, sparking heated discussions with Phil Anschutz’s Goldenvoice, which produces the festival.

“Even after Coachella announced the new lineup on Wednesday, a deal wasn’t in place for The Weeknd, who threatened to pull out at an hour’s notice if he didn’t get the same deal as Kanye,” the source continued.

“Finally, on Wednesday — faced with the prospect of a second headline act pulling out of Coachella at the last minute — Anschutz’s company caved and agreed to pay The Weeknd the same money.”

The insider also confirmed Kanye’s withdrawal from the festival, stating, “Kanye has definitely pulled out of Coachella. He hasn’t been rehearsing or putting on a production.”