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27th Jun 2015

Kanye West on Glastonbury: “It has nothing to do with race”

He also hit out at celebrities who are ruled by money...

Lia Nicholls

Kanye West has come out fighting against the haters who don’t think he deserves a headline spot at Glastonbury.

The rapper, who is due to headline the Pyramid Stage, says he “will put himself on the line” for truth no matter what anyone thinks.

Thousands signed the petition against him playing, but he says it has nothing to do with race.

He told the new issue of Q magazine: “I’m not concerned about race. I don’t think it has to do with race at all. There’s something abnormal about anyone speaking their mind in today’s society.

AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 12:  Kanye West performs onstage as Samsung Galaxy presents JAY Z and Kanye West at SXSW on March 12, 2014 in Austin, Texas.  (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for Samsung)

“It’s even more shocking or radical for someone to see a darker skin be so confident. Because we’ve been advertised against it. So it’s surprising when someone darker really believes in themselves and speaks up about it.”

Kanye, married to Kim Kardashian, also hit out about celebrities who are ruled by money.

He said: “I just think there’s a lot of celebrities that are completely controlled by their finances. You could literally tap them on the wrist and say they lost five dollars and they’ll fall to the floor and beg for at least four of the dollars back. So when people expect a celebrity to do or say anything you’re talking to the wrong group of people. They won’t use their voice for the people. They’ll only use their voice for money.

“Print it as loud, as f***ing loud, as you want to. Print it. And I don’t care what parties I don’t get invited to afterwards. Ninety per cent of celebrities only use their voice for the purpose of making money for themselves.

“I’ll address [politics] however it needs to be addressed, because the world is broken. Somebody’s got to be crazy enough to put themselves and their wellbeing on the line for truth. Somebody’s gotta do it.”

Q magazine is on sale on Tuesday, 30 June.