Glastonbury Organiser Emily Eavis Reveals Death Threats Over Kanye West Booking | HuffPost

Glasto Organiser Emily Received Death Threats Over Kanye Booking

Rachel McGrath— The Huffington Post UK

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Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis has shared her side of the story, following the recent furore over Kanye West’s controversial headline slot.

SEE ALSO: Everything You Need To Know Before Heading To Glasto

The US rapper is set to take to the music festival’s Pyramid Stage next month, however, when the announcement was made, thousands of music fans slammed the booking.

Emily Eavis

Emily, who organises Glasto with her father Michael, has now revealed that she even received death threats after revealing Kanye's headlining slot.

Speaking to the Times, she explains: “It was not a pleasant world we unwrapped.

“I had death threats and stuff. It was just horrible. It was just crazy. It was getting out of control. We had Time magazine, all the American news channels saying they were going to come down. This incredible onslaught worldwide.”

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Over 100,000 people signed an online petition calling for Kanye to be dropped, however Emily stood by her decision, and she’s confident that the ‘All Day’ rapper will deliver.

“It was quite upsetting because we were talking about something that was so exciting and interesting and fresh and brilliant for the festival,” she continues. “Kanye West is making the most exciting music at the moment. He is an amazing force as a performer.

“For us, getting the biggest star in the world was an amazing coup.”

Kanye West

After the launch of the petition, Emily penned an opinion piece for The Guardian, slamming critics who claimed Glastonbury should have booked a heavier act to headline instead.

“To say that our headliners should be “rock” is, I think, a bit silly,” she stated. “Those acts never have been limited to rock, and they never will be.

“Stevie Wonder, the Prodigy, Curtis Mayfield, the Chemical Brothers, Jay Z, Gorillaz, Beyoncé and plenty of others prove that.”

Kanye will be joined by acts including The Who, Foo Fighters, Florence And The Machine and FKA Twigs, when he makes his way to Worthy Farm next month.

There’s no word yet on whether Kim Kardashian will be donning her wellies and joining her husband at the often mud-soaked farm. Now *that*, we’d pay anything to see.

Glastonbury 2014: The Best Bits

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(01 of54)

Dolly Parton with guest Richie Sambora performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(02 of54)

Tom Meighan of Kasabian performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Dolly Parton at Glastonbury Festival(03 of54)

File photo dated 29/06/2014 of Dolly Parton performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, after the country music star answered the critics who questioned whether she was miming during her Glastonbury Festival set in her own inimitable style, telling The Sun: "My boobs are fake, my hair's fake but what is real is my voice and my heart." (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(04 of54)

Ellie Goulding performing at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 2(05 of54)

James Hetfield of Metallica performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(06 of54)

A performance by English National Ballet of 'Lest We Forget' - about the First World War - on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(07 of54)

General view of the crowd during Kasabian's set, at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. . (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(08 of54)

Tom Meighan of Kasabian performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(09 of54)

Tom Meighan (right) and Sergio Pizzorno of Kasabian performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(10 of54)

Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(11 of54)

Patrick Carney of The Black Keys performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(12 of54)

Yoko Ono performing at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(13 of54)

Dolly Parton with guest Richie Sambora performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(14 of54)

General view of the Pyramid Stage, as the sun comes out at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(15 of54)

General view of the crowd during Kasabian's set, at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. . (credit:PA)

BRITAIN-ENTERTAINMENT-MUSIC-GLASTONBURY(16 of54)

Este Haim of the US band Haim, performs on the Other Stage, on the first official day of the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts in Somerset, southwest England, on June 27, 2014. US metal giants Metallica will play this year's coveted Saturday night headline spot at Britain's Glastonbury festival, organisers announced Thursday. It will be the 'Master of Puppets' four-piece's first appearance at the legendary festival, held in south west England, following on from The Rolling Stones' Worthy Farm debut last year. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 1(17 of54)

Danielle Haim performing with Haim at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Day 1 - Glastonbury Festival(18 of54)

GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 27: Alana Haim of 'Haim' performs on The Other Stage during Day 1 of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm on June 27, 2014 in Glastonbury, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Debbie Harry(19 of54)

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John Newman(20 of54)

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Elbow(21 of54)

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Paolo Nutini(22 of54)

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MIA(23 of54)

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Angel Haze(24 of54)

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Lana Del Rey(25 of54)

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Royal Blood(26 of54)

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Robert Plant(27 of54)

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Jack White(28 of54)

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Jack White(29 of54)

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Manic Street Preachers(30 of54)

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Goldfrapp(31 of54)

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Billy Bragg(32 of54)

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Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 1(33 of54)

Arcade Fire performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 1(34 of54)

Rgine Chassagne of Arcade Fire performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

BRITAIN-ENTERTAINMENT-MUSIC-GLASTONBURY(35 of54)

A member of Canadian band Arcade Fire plays keyboards as the group headlines the Pyramid Stage on the first official day of the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset, south west England, on June 27, 2014. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Festival Goers Enjoy Glastonbury 2014(36 of54)

GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: People gather at Arcadia at Worthy Farm in Pilton during the 2014 Glastonbury Festival on June 29, 2014 in Glastonbury, England. Gates opened on Wednesday at the Somerset dairy farm that plays host to one of the largest music festivals in the world. Tickets to the event, which is now in its 44th year, sold out in minutes even before any of the headline acts had been confirmed. The festival, which started in 1970 when several hundred hippies paid £1, now attracts more than 175,000 people. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Kasabian Top The Bill At Glastonbury 2014(37 of54)

BRITAIN-ENTERTAINMENT-MUSIC-GLASTONBURY(38 of54)

Revellers enjoy the pyrotechnic display as they dance to the music at the Arcadia arena, on the second day of the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts in Somerset, southwest England, on June 28, 2014. US metal giants Metallica will play this year's coveted Saturday night headline spot at Britain's Glastonbury festival, organisers announced Thursday. It will be the 'Master of Puppets' four-piece's first appearance at the legendary festival, held in south west England, following on from The Rolling Stones' Worthy Farm debut last year. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Kasabian Top The Bill At Glastonbury 2014(39 of54)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 1(40 of54)

Lily Allen performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Festival Goers Enjoy Glastonbury 2014(41 of54)

GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Festival goers gather at Arcadia at the Glastonbury Festival at Worth Farm in Pilton on June 28, 2014 near Glastonbury, England. Gates opened on Wednesday at the Somerset dairy farm that plays host to one of the largest music festivals in the world. Tickets to the event, which is now in its 44th year, sold out in minutes even before any of the headline acts had been confirmed. The festival, which started in 1970 when several hundred hippies paid £1, now attracts more than 175,000 people. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 1(42 of54)

Lily Allen performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 2(43 of54)

The Pixies (from the left) Black Francis, David Lovering, Paz Lenchantin on stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 2(44 of54)

The Pixies (from the left) Joey Santiago, Black Francis, Paz Lenchantin and David Lovering on stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Day 2 - Glastonbury Festival(45 of54)

GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Kelis performs on the Pyramid Stage during Day 2 of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm on June 28, 2014 in Glastonbury, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(46 of54)

Ed Sheeran performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend - Glasgow(47 of54)

Music fans watching Ed Sheeran perform during the Radio 1's Big Weekend at Glasgow Green, Glasgow. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 1(48 of54)

Ricky Wilson (centre) performs a surprise set with the Kaiser Chiefs, as the first act of the festival, at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 1(49 of54)

Ricky Wilson performs a surprise set with the Kaiser Chiefs, as the first act of the festival, at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Kasabian Top The Bill At Glastonbury 2014(50 of54)

Kasabian Top The Bill At Glastonbury 2014(51 of54)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 2(52 of54)

James Hetfield of Metallica performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 3(53 of54)

Dolly Parton performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

Glastonbury Festival 2014 - Day 2(54 of54)

Robert Trujillo of Metallica performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. (credit:PA)

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