UPDATE: Artists Behind Splendour’s Controversial ‘Sad Kanye’ Artwork Respond To Criticism
ORIGINAL STORY: Today, Splendour In The Grass announced that there would be a giant 10m high inflatable Sad Kanye installation at this year’s festival.
Kanye is a controversial figure and his presence at any festival is always bound to draw criticism, whether he’s physically there or not, but this installation is being criticised for different reasons.
The rapper has spent much of the year out of the spotlight after he was hospitalised suffering “temporary psychosis” and as such, ‘Sad Kanye’ is being criticised for making a joke of mental illness.
A number of people have taken to social media to air their grievances with one writing on Twitter, “poor form @SITG- mental illness is no joke. Especially amongst musicians. You should know better.”
Other users on Twitter have called it “distasteful”, “terrible” and “dismissive”.
People have also made comment on Facebook with one user writing, “How is this ok? Mocking mental illness”.
Music Feeds has reached out to Splendour for comment.
If you or anyone close to you needs help or information regarding mental health, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
https://twitter.com/whatmsees/status/870158390181240833
https://twitter.com/ErikVeland/status/870157016194367489
This is terrible
— james fiore (@jimbobfiore) June 1, 2017
Well this seems appropriate and not at all insensitive or dismissive
— Nisha Grazia Patel (@nishagrazia) June 1, 2017
nothing funny about this
— Tom Stanford (@tomstanf) June 1, 2017
Poor form, really
— Kuda (@kuda32) June 1, 2017