​I Hate Models pulled from Le Bon Air line-up after requesting private jet

French DJ and producer I Hate Models has been pulled from the line-up of Marseille’s Le Bon Air festival, Resident Advisor reports.

The decision was made following a request that he fly to the festival by private jet. He was scheduled to perform this weekend on Saturday, May 18.

In a statement posted to Instagram yesterday (May 15), the festival explained that “no artist has ever taken a private jet to come and play at Le Bon Air Festival”.

“The environmental and social impact of our organisation is certain,” they explained. “Together, including audiences, artists, and productions, we must share those commitments.”

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Le Bon Air addressed the private jet request from I Hate Models, explaining: “this highly polluting means of transportation consumes 50 times more CO2 than a train”.

“It’s an ecological, economic, and social aberration that we systematically refuse,” they said, noting that their contracts with artists state that transport must be consented by the festival before arrival.

I Hate Models’ agent said in a statement to Resident Advisor that it’s a “disappointing” decision, and that he had intended to cover the full cost of the private jet himself. He asked that the festival cover his airport transfers.

In the statement to RA, they explained: "As I Hate Models had another gig in Germany the same night as the festival, it was agreed that we would manage transport with a buy-out.”

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“So we worked on a solution of a private jet as it was the only option that would ensure he arrived in time for his set time in Marseille,” they said, adding: “We took the private jet option because it was the only option for I Hate Models to arrive in time for his set at Le Bon Air”.

His agent also said that I Hate Models was “looking forward” to his set, and had even offered to re-purchase his CO2 emissions to “make up for this at his own costs”.

Le Bon Air apologised for inconveniences, and have now added MÉZIGUE to the line-up, and replaced I Hate Models’ closing set on Saturday night with a performance from KI/KI.

[Via Resident Advisor]

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter