The Weeknd Threatens to Back Out of Coachella If He Doesn't Get Kanye West's $8.5M Paycheck
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The 'Blinding Lights' singer demands to be paid as much as the 'Donda' artist would've gotten after he's tapped to replace the Atlanta native, who has withdrawn from the music festival.

AceShowbiz - The Weeknd knows his worth and isn't going to settle for less than what he deserves. The Canadian star has reportedly demanded Kanye West's $8.5 million paycheck to headline Coachella festival after he's tapped to replace the Atlanta native, who recently pulled out from the event.

Following Ye's withdrawal, Coachella organizers announced on early Wednesday, March 6 that The Weeknd and house music supergroup Swedish House Mafia would take over the rapper's sets on Sunday, April 17 and Sunday, April 24. However, the deal was reportedly not done with the "Blinding Lights" crooner at the time.

"The Weeknd came in at short notice to take Kanye's top spot. But Phil Anschutz [who owns the Coachella Festival through AEG Live] wanted to hold on to Kanye's money and pay The Weeknd far less, just a few million," a source tells Page Six. "The festival would pocket the rest."

Kanye was reportedly set to rake in $8 million plus a $500,000 production fee. The Weeknd demanded to be paid as much as the "Gold Digger" spitter would've received from the gig or else he will also pull out from the festival, according to the source.

"Even after Coachella announced the new lineup on Wednesday, a deal wasn't in place for The Weeknd, who threatened to pull out at an hour's notice if he didn't get the same deal as Kanye," the source further spills.

The organizers eventually gave in to The Weeknd's demand to secure him for the show. The source says, "Finally, on Wednesday - faced with the prospect of a second headline act pulling out of Coachella at the last minute - Anschutz's company caved and agreed to pay The Weeknd the same money."

Kanye pulled out from the festival for an unknown reason. "Kanye has definitely pulled out of Coachella," an insider told Page Six on Monday. "He hasn't been rehearsing or putting on a production." Travis Scott (II) was supposed to join him onstage, but now the "Sicko Mode" emcee is not going to perform at the festival either.

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