Cara Delevingne stood by her Coachella boycott while also praising Beyoncé’s performance, and let’s hear her out

Update, April 16th, 2018, 6:33 p.m. PST: Philip Anschutz, Chairman of AEG (aka Coachella’s owner) released the following statement in reaction to the reports that he donates money to Anti-LGBTQ organizations and politicians: “AEG whole-heartedly embraces the LGBTQ community. Our recent support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and its vital work speaks to our organization’s true values” and also, “our foundation supports a broad range of philanthropic causes. I regret if any money given to a charity for other purposes may have indirectly worked against these values.” You can read AEG’s full statement here.

Cara Delevingne went nuts for Beyoncé’s Coachella performance, just like all of us — but when Delevingne posted an Instagram tribute to Bey’s historic set, the internet called her a hypocrite. Why? According to the comments on the model’s IG post, Delevingne had apparently aligned herself with the #Nochella movement when it was revealed that the festival’s owner Philip Anschutz had donated over $200,000 to anti-LGBTQ organizations and routinely donates money to politicians who are anti-LGBTQ and pro-gun.

Delevingne later explained in an Instagram Story that she stands by her Coachella boycott, but that doesn’t mean she can’t praise an individual like Beyoncé on a masterful performance.

Delevingne said Bey’s Saturday night performance “sent shivers down my spine. Especially the Destiny’s child reunion. ICONIC is an understatement. Thank you for inspiring so many and for lifting each other up.” But when the trolls crawled into her comments section, she retorted with the following statement:

"Some people are commenting on the fact that i posted about my anger towards the owner of coachella and then about beyoncé. my hashtag was #Nochella. I still refuse to go to a festival that is owned by someone who is anti lgbt and pro gun. I am allowed to shame that man and the festival and show my appreciation of an artist at the same time. Just because i love beyoncé doesn’t mean I now love coachella. I still wouldn’t go. And i will let nothing get in the way of me showing my love or hate for something. Don’t let anyone come between you and your truth.

To be fair, condemning Beyoncé along with the Coachella boycott would do more harm than good. Besides serving up a phenomenal performance, Bey was the first black woman ever to headline the music festival and gloriously crafted a performance that was an homage to black culture. A full boycott would have denied the world of Beyonce’s gift. However, it is important to educate yourself on the powers behind your favorite music festival. If you are curious about the Coachella boycott in general and who the festival’s owner is, you can learn more here.