In brief
Kanye West, now known as Ye, was scheduled to headline two nights in St. Petersburg but the concerts were cancelled after stadium officials said contracts were not signed and the rapper’s past antisemitic remarks sparked outrage. Russian authorities denounced the planned shows, and the venue issued a statement saying the event could not proceed. The cancellation came as part of a growing list of venues that have barred Ye from performing worldwide amid legal and public‑relations fallout.
Kanye West, now going by Ye, was due to headline the Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg on 10 and 11 October. Fans had been looking forward to what would be the biggest western‑artist show in Russia since the 2022 Ukraine conflict began.
In the weeks ahead, the venue announced that it had not signed a rental agreement with the promoters, which meant the event could not go ahead. The decision sparked confusion as some posts on social media claimed the shows were still on.
Source group Say Agency, which organised the concerts, posted a message on Telegram confirming the cancellations and apologising. They said, “The Ye concerts in St. Petersburg will not be able to take place on the scheduled dates,” and added that they would release an official statement soon.
The cancellation comes amid a wider backlash against Ye’s recent comments that many saw as antisemitic and pro‑Nazi. He has issued apologies for past remarks and blamed them on his bipolar condition.
Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova, blasted the proposed concerts, calling the rapper’s “glorification” of Hitler unacceptable. The country’s authorities and anti‑war bloggers questioned whether Russia could host an American artist while supporting Ukraine.
This isn’t the first time Ye’s tours have hit snags. Earlier this year an event in London was cancelled because he was barred from entering the UK, and concerts in Poland, Italy, France and even the UK’s Wireless Festival were called off.
Despite the withdrawal, Ye has not yet commented publicly about the Russia incident. He recently staged a major show in Los Angeles in April, marking his first big US headline since a five‑year break, and has since played in Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.
