Coachella stands at the epicenter of global music culture — a world stage where performances reverberate far beyond the desert. Such a platform demands responsibility, one that Paul Tollett and festival promoters Aeg/Goldenvoice abandoned when they handed the stage to Kneecap, an Irish band with a public record of cheering on terror groups and promoting hate. In my view, it wasn’t a mistake. It was a choice.

And when the hate speech poured out from the stage, it wasn’t just heard by the thousands in attendance. It was broadcast across social media, third party livestreams, and endless reposts, amplifying their venom to millions. This wasn’t fringe noise in a dive bar heard only by their fans. It was onstage at Coachella’s global megaphone.

What did Paul Tollett expect?

Tollett, the founder of Coachella, has spoken about the festival’s cultural significance, about his responsibility to the audience,...