Philip Anschutz, owner of AEG Live, denies claims that he supports anti-LGBTQ agendas.

Reports that Philip Anschutz, the head of AEG Live, has financially supported organizations with anti-LGBTQ and anti-climate science agendas swept the internet yesterday. AEG is behind Coachella, London’s O2, Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, the Los Angeles Lakers, and many other entertainment entities.

Anschutz has now spoken out about the uproar about his support of these organizations – and his ties to the Koch brothers – calling his alleged homophobia “garbage” and saying that neither he nor his Anschutz Foundation have not given to “any organization with the purpose or expectation that it would finance anti-LGBTQ initiatives.”

Yesterday it was reported that Anschutz has donated money to organizations including the Alliance Defending Freedom, the National Christian Foundation, and the Family Research Council.

He stated: “I unequivocally support the rights of all people without regard to sexual orientation. We are fortunate to employ a wealth of diverse individuals throughout our family of companies, all of whom are important to us—the only criteria on which they are judged is the quality of their job performance; we do not tolerate discrimination in any form.”

“When it has come to my attention or the attention of The Anschutz Foundation,” he added, “that certain organizations either the Foundation or I have funded have been supporting such causes, we have immediately ceased all contributions to such groups.”

This year’s Coachella lineup features Mitski, Future, DJ Shadow, and more with Kendrick Lamar, Radiohead, and Beyoncé in the headlining spots.

Latest

Latest



		
	
Share Tweet