Coachella’s Owner Philip Anschutz Dismisses Anti-LGBTQ Report as ‘Fake News’

AEG founder Philip Anschutz, whose company owns Coachella’s promoter, Goldenvoice, has come under fire for his ties to anti-LGBTQ hate groups.

As we previously reported, a 2016 report has resurfaced of Anschutz reportedly donating a combined $190,000 to the Alliance Defending Freedom, the National Christian Foundation and the Family Research Council between 2010 and 2013. The Southern Poverty Law Center have cited these groups as conservative and have campaigned against LGBTQ rights.

Anschutz has since issued a statement regarding the report, which he calls "fake news." Read his statement below (via EW)

Recent claims published in the media that I am anti-LGBTQ are nothing more than fake news -- it is all garbage. 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.

"Both The Anschutz Foundation and I contribute to numerous organizations that pursue a wide range of causes. Neither I nor the Foundation fund any organization with the purpose or expectation that it would finance anti-LGBTQ initiatives, and when it has come to my attention or the attention of The Anschutz Foundation that certain organizations either the Foundation or I have funded have been supporting such causes, we have immediately ceased all contributions to such groups."

The 2017 Coachella Music and Arts Festival will feature headliners Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar in April. There's no word if Queen Bey will back out of the festival in the wake of the report. The R&B superstar is a staunch supporter of gay and lesbians rights.

Reps for Coachella had no comment on the matter.