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Ye's Russia concerts cancelled amid dispute and controversy

Two planned Ye concerts in St. Petersburg have been cancelled after a dispute over a rental deal and concerns over the rapper's anti‑Semitic remarks.

Source: bbc.co.uk1 min read
Kanye West at a concert
Kanye West at a concert

In brief

Kanye West, now known as Ye, was set to perform two shows in St. Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena on 10 and 11 October, but the venue confirmed it would not host the concerts after a missing rental agreement and complaints about the artist’s anti‑Semitic statements. Say Agency announced the cancellation via Telegram, stating the gigs would not take place and that an official statement would follow. The move follows a string of cancellations across Europe, including Poland, Italy, France and the UK, reflecting heightened scrutiny of West’s public conduct amid the Russia‑Ukraine conflict.

Two stadium shows in Russia by Kanye West, who recently changed his name to Ye, have been officially cancelled. The rapper was slated to perform at Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg on 10 and 11 October.

After confusion over a missing rental agreement, the venue confirmed it would not host the concerts – a decision that followed complaints about West’s anti‑Semitic remarks and the broader political context of Russia‑Ukraine tensions.

Say Agency posted on the messaging app Telegram that “the Ye concerts in St. Petersburg will not be able to take place on the scheduled dates” and would issue an official statement later.

West has already cancelled multiple tours in Poland, Italy, France and the UK, sparking debate over his public stance and the ethics of hosting American artists amid the war.

For now West has not responded publicly to the cancellation.

Stay tuned for updates at Newsbeat’s live radio stream.

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