Story perspectives

UK festivals remove Reggie Watts after Rolling Stone report

8/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

UK festivals removed Reggie Watts from lineups after a Rolling Stone report.
Greenbelt confirmed Watts’s removal; Shambala acknowledged it in an email.
Loved ones allege Watts encouraged ex-girlfriend Katherine Early McCollough’s ketamine use, leading to her March 2026 suicide.
Watts’s lawyer Andrew Brettler called the claim dangerously false, saying she was an experienced user.
Five former partners also said Watts pushed them to use drugs and engaged in non-consensual acts.

History

Historical Context

The 2017 Harvey Weinstein scandal, exposed by The New York Times, ignited the #MeToo movement and reshaped entertainment industry standards. Over 600 accusations surfaced, prompting a $44 million settlement with the New York Attorney General and prompting Time’s Up to launch a legal fund. Similarly, UK festivals now drop Reggie Watts after Rolling Stone’s investigation, with Greenbelt and Shambala citing alleged drug-induced abuse claims. These actions signal a tightening zero-tolerance policy, urging organizers worldwide to enforce stricter vetting and protect performers and audiences alike.

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Story summary

UK festivals removed Reggie Watts from lineups after a Rolling Stone report.
Greenbelt confirmed Watts’s removal; Shambala acknowledged it in an email.
Loved ones allege Watts encouraged ex-girlfriend Katherine Early McCollough’s ketamine use, leading to her March 2026 suicide.
Watts’s lawyer Andrew Brettler called the claim dangerously false, saying she was an experienced user.
Five former partners also said Watts pushed them to use drugs and engaged in non-consensual acts.

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