24 votes

Wireless Festival cancelled after Kanye West blocked from coming to UK

8 comments

  1. kari
    Link
    Well, maybe those stakeholders were morons.

    As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking Ye and no concerns were highlighted at the time.

    Well, maybe those stakeholders were morons.

    23 votes
  2. [5]
    papasquat
    Link
    I'm all for forgiving people who have seen the error of their ways. I do appreciate Kanye seeming to come to his senses, getting treatment for whatever mental issues have plagued him, and making...

    I'm all for forgiving people who have seen the error of their ways. I do appreciate Kanye seeming to come to his senses, getting treatment for whatever mental issues have plagued him, and making an effort to apologize for the harm he's done.

    The thing is though, you still have to face consequences. Apologizing for something doesn't suddenly mean everyone has to forgive you and those bad things you did are erased.

    People should have learned this in kindergarten. Just because you apologized for hitting your sister doesn't mean you don't get put in time out.

    Kanye has irreparably damaged his image, his legacy, and his career. It's good that he seems to want to atone for the things he's done and said, and I hope he feels genuine remorse and isn't just doing it because his income has slowed, but that doesn't mean he should automatically get it all back.

    23 votes
    1. Nsutdwa
      Link Parent
      I wasn't even aware of him doing whatever to try and redeem himself, to be honest. I love his early music, he's such a talent, but I'd mentally just filed him under "forget and move on", like...

      I wasn't even aware of him doing whatever to try and redeem himself, to be honest. I love his early music, he's such a talent, but I'd mentally just filed him under "forget and move on", like Rowling, or a handful of others. I don't really care what he does, I can't be bothered trying to get on board with any more of his character arcs. It's not like there's a shortage of talented rap artists.

      9 votes
    2. [3]
      primarily
      Link Parent
      to what extent are people going through mania and/or psychosis responsible for their actions? I can understand being more apprehensive about certain things, but you're implying that people with...

      to what extent are people going through mania and/or psychosis responsible for their actions? I can understand being more apprehensive about certain things, but you're implying that people with severe mental health conditions should face ongoing consequences, and I can't get behind that. You're coming across as someone who doesn't yet understand the full scope of what a serious disease bipolar can be; although, I don't personally condone what he's said and done. It's almost unimaginable (in a very negative way) what this condition and his place in culture/society has created.

      7 votes
      1. papasquat
        Link Parent
        I understand how serious of a disease it is. I understand that the disease can explain some of the things he's said and done. He's still responsible for those things though. If you have a disease...

        I understand how serious of a disease it is. I understand that the disease can explain some of the things he's said and done. He's still responsible for those things though.

        If you have a disease who's symptoms have the capacity to harm other people, it's your responsibility to manage those symptoms; especially if you're in such a position of influence. Alcoholics are still responsible when their drunk driving kills someone. Kanye spent years not managing the symptoms of his disease as it was actively harming multitudes of people.

        There are plenty of people with bipolar who are able manage their symptoms such that they don't cause great harm to other people. Most people with bipolar don't become neo-nazis and forment hatred against vulnerable people. Kanye did though, and he should have to live with the consequences of that, apology or not, disease or not.

        39 votes
      2. lou
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Although you can't change anything while in mania or depression, they are not eternal. Once the episode subsides you become responsible for seeking help.

        Although you can't change anything while in mania or depression, they are not eternal. Once the episode subsides you become responsible for seeking help.

        7 votes
  3. PraiseTheSoup
    Link
    I love it when rich people see actual consequences for their shitty actions. Not that he probably cares that much...he's still rich.

    I love it when rich people see actual consequences for their shitty actions. Not that he probably cares that much...he's still rich.

    7 votes
  4. CannibalisticApple
    Link
    It's wild they decided to have him headline given just... Everything. Seriously, even without the antisemitic stuff, for a long while Kanye just sounded genuinely insane. And is also still, at...

    It's wild they decided to have him headline given just... Everything. Seriously, even without the antisemitic stuff, for a long while Kanye just sounded genuinely insane. And is also still, at last report, a Trump supporter. That would inevitably bring politics into any discourse about him headlining.

    Now, I'm fairly sympathetic to the guy. As far as I can tell his mental decline started after his mom died due to complications from getting plastic surgery, and he even stated that he blamed himself for her death. Once I learned that, it explained so much about him and made most of his big scandals feel more sad than anything. That sort of guilt can absolutely shatter a mentally sound person, and I'm fairly sure he was already having struggles at the time. Sinking deeper into mania and delusions would be much more appealing than living with that reality, and he was surrounded by enablers who wouldn't push him to get help and instead would even use him for their own benefit.

    And all that is also why having him headline is such a bad idea. The media already had no problems taking advantage of him at his lowest and broadcasting his every word. Putting him in the spotlight so directly when he's only just started addressing his mental health is way too risky, especially with the current political and societal landscape. We're all on edge, and a guy with a very well documented and public record of antisemitic statements and calling himself a Nazi just last year... Well, the guy's an easy and obvious target.

    I'm all for forgiveness and second chances, but his apology wasn't even three months ago. Even if he's sincere and has sought treatment, it takes a lot of time and effort to build one's mental fortitude and stability after even "short" episodes. The public scrutiny and backlash has a strong chance of crumbling whatever mental fortitude he's managed to build in this very short time and send him back into a spiral.

    6 votes