Kanye West’s two planned concerts in Russia have been thrown into chaos after the original venue backed out just days after tickets went on sale, leaving over 100,000 ticket holders in limbo.
The US rap star, who goes by the stage name “Ye,” was scheduled to perform in Saint Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena on October 10 and 11. Ticket prices ranged from around $100 to almost $2,000, with the cheapest selling out within hours.
But a week later, Gazprom Arena denied it would host the shows, saying it had “not signed any contracts to lease the stadium for the event.” The apparent cancellation took organizers by surprise and prompted anger and confusion among social media users.
“Give the people their money back, you clowns,” one user wrote on Telegram under Gazprom Arena’s
post.
The Kremlin Divide
Russian officials are divided about whether the concerts should go ahead. Some have welcomed West’s planned shows, hoping to dispel the notion that Russia is isolated over the war in Ukraine. Others have expressed concerns about the rapper’s past comments glorifying Nazi Germany — a sensitive issue in Russia, especially given the devastating siege of Saint Petersburg during World War II.
Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov, the architect of Russia’s LGBTQ “propaganda” laws, accused the artist of doing “vile, obscene things” but spoke out against banning him. Ekaterina Mizulina, head of Russia’s internet safety watchdog, called West an “admirer of Adolf Hitler.”
The RBK news outlet reported that debates about whether Ye should perform were taking place within the presidential administration, with some officials supportive and others skeptical. The decision to pull the shows allegedly came from high up, with Saint Petersburg’s Fontanka media outlet reporting that the concert was “cancelled by a phone call from Moscow.”
The Organizer’s Response
Say Agency, the Moscow-based events organizer, denied the concerts had been cancelled and announced it was working on a solution. “Please be patient and wait for an official announcement,” it said.
Several other venues have offered to host the events. Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium — Russia’s largest by seat capacity — said it would “consider” hosting the concerts if asked. A medieval-themed museum near the southern town of Anapa also offered to host, though its capacity is only 1,500.
West’s Controversial History
West has voiced admiration for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler on multiple occasions and in 2022 declared his “love” for the Nazis. He apologized for past instances of antisemitism in 2023 and took out a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal attributing his past behavior to his bipolar disorder.
The Grammy-award-winning rapper has been barred from several European countries over his past comments.
The Bottom Line
Kanye West’s planned concerts in Russia are in limbo after Gazprom Arena backed out, leaving over 100,000 ticket holders uncertain. The decision reportedly came from Moscow, with Kremlin officials divided over whether the controversial rapper should perform. Organizers insist the shows are not cancelled and are seeking an alternative venue. West has not yet commented on the situation.
