Fans Call for Lightning in a Bottle to Remove Diplo from 20th Anniversary Lineup

January 22, 2023

Anticipating its 20th Anniversary, fans are concerned that LIB’s lineup includes Diplo, as he has been accused of sexual assault.

This year is the 20th anniversary of Lighting in a Bottle, The Do LaB’s annual and industry-shaping music festival; in addition to many famous names in the EDM community, LIB’s lineup includes Diplo. The festival, much like its name, uniquely combines music with an exciting concoction of education and culture, art, yoga, and, most-of-all, community; many of its attendees choose to camp on-site for its duration. For years, the festival has continued to bring together a loyal circle of mavericks who value imagination and innovation. As their website reads, “Camping together as a collective of conscious explorers is an essential part of the magic, and together we create a welcoming and safe place to imagine, play, and create.”

Lighting in a Bottle’s 2023 20th Anniversary lineup has recently been announced, with a wide range of EDM and genre-blurring fan favorites including REZZ, SOFI TUKKER, ZHU, Liquid Stranger, LSDream, TOKiMONSTA, The Glitch Mob, Tale of Us, Purple Disco Machine, Ben Böhmer, Phantogram, Tobe Nwigwe, 070 Shake, Caribou, LTJ Bukem w/ Armanni, MEUTE, Deathpact, The Polish Ambassador, The Floozies, Stephan Bodzin, BLOND:ISH, Giorgia Angiuli, LP Giobbi, and more. One of the biggest names lined-up for the festival’s Woogie Stage is grammy-winning DJ and music producer Diplo.

But while Diplo has long been one of the biggest names in EDM music, fans are calling for him to be removed from Lighting in a Bottle’s lineup. One fan comments on the lineup’s Instagram post, “Why Diplo, who’s been called out for sexual assault?” while another comments, “Does Diplo at woogie make sense to anyone? Everytime I’ve heard him I’ve walked away immediately. Not woogie vibes at all.” While sexual assault allegations are taken seriously by music fans all over, Lighting in a Bottle fans may be particularly disturbed as The Do LaB’s core values for the festival include respecting others, educational and cause-driven discussions, and creating genuine connection; and their fans love the festival and come back every year because of these values.

Accused by multiple women in 2020, Diplo allegedly groomed and had sex with underage girls, leaked revenge porn, refused to disclose that he had an STI before having sex, and engaged in sexual coercion, rape, and nonconsensual taping of sexual activities. Diplo and his legal team have said of one of the allegations that the woman was simply a fan who was trying to sabotage his career because he once rejected her.

The Do LaB has not commented in response to fans’ pleas. In better news, the festival’s Lightning and Woogie stages will return this year with re-vamped designs and a new Grand Artique stage featuring an Americano twist.

Lighting in a Bottle 2023 will take place on Memorial Day weekend, May 24-29, at Buena Vista Lake in Southern California. Tickets and more information for this five-day experience can be found here. VIP offerings first introduced during the 2022 edition will also return, where pass holders will be granted access to backstage lounges, special pop-up interactive experiences, and more.