Famous Rapper Accused of Nazi Sympathy Has Sold-Out Concert Suddenly Canceled

Authorities in Russia Likely Ordered Cancellation After Intense Domestic Debate

American rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) has faced cancellations of his concerts not only in Europe due to controversy over alleged Nazi sympathies but also recently in Russia.

American rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West). Photo by AP Yonhap News

On August 29 (local time), The Washington Post reported that Ye's concert scheduled for October at Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia, had been canceled. This concert was originally set to be the first time a prominent Western musician would perform in Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. The news generated significant attention, and both scheduled concerts, including VIP seats priced at 1,900 dollars (approximately 2.62 million won), were sold out.

However, foreign media reported that the controversy over Ye’s alleged Nazi sympathies created a dilemma for Russian authorities. A Ye concert in Russia—isolated for four years due to Western sanctions over the Ukraine war—had been viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate that Russia was not internationally isolated.

Nevertheless, there was intense opposition to holding the concert in St. Petersburg, a city where hundreds of thousands died during the 872-day siege by Nazi Germany in World War II. Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly characterized the war in Ukraine as a struggle against Nazism, which may also have influenced the decision.

Furthermore, Ye's 2023 song "Vultures" included lyrics describing the main character tormenting a Russian woman addicted to drugs for the sake of Ukraine. As a result, there was sharp division within Russia between those who argued that authorities should not intervene in the concert and those who, considering Ye’s background and history, argued that permission for the performance should not be granted.

According to the Washington Post, Russian media believe that Ye’s concert was likely forcibly canceled at the request of authorities.

Meanwhile, since 2022, Ye has consistently posted content on social networking services (SNS) that has been interpreted as antisemitic. Beginning in 2023, most European countries banned him from performing concerts.

Not stopping there, on May 8, 2025—the 80th anniversary of Germany’s defeat in World War II—Ye released a new song titled "Heil Hitler," using the Nazi salute as the title. Ahead of the release of his third album this January, Ye issued a public apology, explaining that he developed bipolar disorder following a past car accident and that he regrets his actions. Nevertheless, European countries such as Poland, France, and Italy have maintained their bans on his performances. In the UK, Ye is effectively barred from entry; his Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) was denied on the grounds that his visit would not serve the public interest.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.