Kanye West had big plans to join forces with Joel Osteen and deliver an Easter Sunday performance for the ages but unfortunately, the set has been canceled due to safety concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
Up until this point, theYeezus rapper, along with Mariah Carey and Tyler Perry were among the lineup of celebrity guests but sources told TMZ on Friday why it’s just not feasible to have Mr. West and his massive gospel choir participate in the religious festivities.
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As you’re likely aware, Kanye had been performing all over the country (during pre-coronavirus times) with his Sunday Service choir which has more than one hundred members. According to the outlet’s source, the large group hit a roadblock while trying to work out a location where they’d be able to livestream the scheduled performance from Los Angeles; the goal was to wear masks and maintain appropriate social distancing positions six feet away from each other while singing.
However, once everything was laid out, ‘Ye decided it just didn’t feel safe enough for everyone involved and they were unable to execute his creative vision. So, he decided to pull the plug altogether!
This was probably the best call to make, all things considered. Not only has the CDC explicitly warned against large gatherings to help fight the spread of COVID-19, but it would also be rather difficult to capture the musical group on camera while so far apart!
If not for the current health crisis, this certainly would’ve been must-watch viewing for fans of the artist. It was quite a successful turnout the last time the Jesus Walks rapper teamed up with Osteen and spoke in front of thousands of attendees at the pastor’s Houston-area megachurch, Lakewood Church, late last year. As the saying goes, the show must go on! But, how??
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West is teaming up with VOUS Church lead pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr., who served as the officiator of his marriage to Kim Kardashian West in 2014, to keep the holiday spirit alive. According to announcement on the Miami-based church’s website, a pre-recorded performance of Kanye and his choir will stream on vouschurch.com and the institutions’ various social media channels. Online services begin at 8 a.m. and will continue throughout the day with Spanish translations available on YouTube at 11 a.m, if you’re interested in watching!
It’s unclear at this point if West also plans to send the same or another pre-taped set over to Osteen’s church but it might be a good idea. This is a much safer alternative for everyone involved!
Will U be tuning in, Perezcious readers? Got any fun Easter plans of your own? Let us know in the comments (below)!
[Image via Joel Osteen/YouTube]
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