The St Petersburg stadium that was set to host two concerts by Ye — the rapper formerly known as Kanye West — has now said the concerts will not take place at the venue, although the promoter has stressed they have not been cancelled.
Gazprom Arena had previously posted on social media saying that “the most influential musical artist of our time” would perform there on 10 and 11 October. The event sold out immediately, including tickets priced at £1,390 ($1,896).
The planned appearance has caused controversy both inside and outside Russia. Ye’s plan to play the country flouts sweeping sanctions and calls for culture boycotts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Venue’s Statement
The Russian venue has now released a statement distancing itself from the concerts. “In light of the numerous inquiries received by Gazprom Arena regarding the organisation of a Kanye West concert, we hereby officially state: Gazprom Arena was not, and is not, the organiser of this event.
“Gazprom Arena has not signed any contracts to lease the stadium for this event. No such contract exists. Consequently, the concert cannot take place at our venue.”
On Telegram, Say Agency said it was surprised by the announcement, learning the news at the same time as the public, but that “as of now, the Ye concert has not been cancelled.”
Say Agency said it announced the concerts after Gazprom Arena approved an “official letter,” but the rental contract had not yet been signed ahead of its expiry later this week.
The Controversy
Countries including the UK, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, France and more have blocked concerts by Ye owing to public safety concerns over his prior antisemitic outbursts and expressions of sympathy towards Nazism. In January, Ye issued an apology for his behaviour and discussed his mental health struggles. “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” he wrote. “I love Jewish people.”
Within Russia, politician Nikolay Novichkov called for the musician to be investigated for praising Hitler and said the concerts should be cancelled unless he publicly declared “moral support for Russia and the special military operation.” Legislator Vitaly Milonov said Ye should perform traditional Russian songs at the planned concerts. “Maybe after this he’ll stop his disgusting antics and become a normal person,” he added.
The Promoter’s Response
Say Agency previously released a statement acknowledging the controversy. “Not everything Kanye West said should be forgotten. Many people are talking about Kanye today. Many are trying to criticise him for words spoken during difficult times. But it’s easy to judge based on a single statement. It’s more difficult to listen to a person who has been changing the industry for decades. We listened, and we want to remind you.”
Despite the controversy, fans have been undeterred. Ye has recently performed to vast audiences in the US, Turkey, the Netherlands, Georgia, Albania, Portugal and Kazakhstan, with more dates planned.
The Bottom Line
Kanye West’s planned concerts in Russia are in doubt after St Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena said it would not host the shows. The promoter insists the concerts have not been cancelled, but the venue says no contract exists. The planned performances have sparked controversy due to Russia’s isolation over the Ukraine war and Ye’s past antisemitic comments. The event sold out immediately before the venue’s statement.
