Organizers have announced the cancellation of two scheduled concerts by American rap star Kanye West in Russia. This cancellation occurred less than two months after the unexpected announcement generated significant interest and excitement among Russians.
Officials did not provide any reasons for the cancellation of the events. It is worth noting that West, who performs under the stage name 'Ye', has previously faced bans in many European countries due to antisemitic remarks.
The events, which were originally set to take place in St. Petersburg, were canceled a few days after ticket sales began, creating uncertainty for several weeks regarding their holding.
In a statement from the Moscow event organizer Say Agency, it was said: 'Friends, we sincerely regret to announce that the YE concerts in St. Petersburg cannot take place on the planned dates.' The organizer also added that details regarding refund conditions will be published shortly.
Kanye West has not commented on this matter yet. This Grammy Award winner was expected to be the largest Western musician to perform in Russia since Russia began its operation in Ukraine in 2022.
Some Russian officials welcomed the upcoming performances, while others expressed concerns about the rapper's past statements praising Nazi Germany, which is a sensitive topic in Russia. The publication Kommersant reported that the police are investigating the organizers on charges of fraud, citing an unnamed source.