Philip Anschutz, the controversial owner of the entertainment conglomerate AEG and co-owner of Coachella, has come under fire recently for donations to charities with extremely conservative views on homosexuality and immigration, among other issues. Earlier this week, Anschutz announced that he has donated $1 million to the Elton John AIDS Foundation's LGBT Fund, which “tackles the stigma, discrimination and violence that prevents LGBT people in Sub-Saharan Africa from accessing the health and HIV services they need,” according to a press release
The donation is “intended to emphasize that we support freedom of all people to live their lives peacefully,” Anschutz said in a statement, as Billboard reports. He continued, “Sexuality is among the most personal of issues, and it has never been my intent to weigh in on people’s private lives. I support the rights of all people and oppose discrimination and intolerance against the LGBTQ community. I see this as a matter of basic human rights.”
Anschutz also reiterated earlier claims that some of his most controversial donations resulted from oversights. “Our Foundation supports a broad range of philanthropic causes,” reads the new statement. “I regret if any money given to a charity for other purposes may have indirectly worked against these values. That was not my intention, it does not reflect my beliefs, and I am committed to making sure our internal processes are strengthened so that it does not happen again.”
When reports of his anti-LGBTQ ties went viral in early 2017, Anschutz released a similar statement, calling criticisms “fake news” and claiming he had immediately stopped giving to certain groups upon learning of their anti-gay politics. Although donations since then are not yet a matter of public record, tax filings released this January show that Anschutz was still donating to numerous anti-LGBT charities until at least November 2016.
In a press release, Elton John said, “The donation by Phil to EJAF is in keeping with the special connection and consistently supportive, collaborative relationship I have developed with AEG for more than a decade. We will put his donation to work to ensure that vulnerable groups are not left behind in the fight against HIV/AID. This funding will help our programs provide life-saving work for LGBT communities around the world, starting with the LGBT Fund in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
AEG is currently promoting Elton John's farewell tour.
Read Pitchfork’s latest roundup of Anschutz’s controversial donations.
