St Petersburg stadium dispute puts Ye’s Russian shows in doubt
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
The dispute over Kanye West's planned Russian concerts has deepened, with promoter Say Agency clarifying that Gazprom Arena had approved an "official letter" for the shows but that a formal rental contract was never signed and is due to expire this week — explaining the venue's abrupt denial of involvement. Say Agency insists the sold-out 10 and 11 October dates in St Petersburg, which had sold tickets for up to £1,390, have not been cancelled despite the stadium's statement that no contract exists and the concerts "cannot take place" there. The shows would make Ye, formerly Kanye West, the biggest Western act to perform in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began, a prospect that has drawn criticism given Western sanctions and cultural boycotts.
The controversy is compounded by Ye's history of antisemitic remarks and expressions of sympathy for Nazism, which led the UK, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and France, among others, to block his concerts on public safety grounds; he apologised for his behaviour in January. Even within Russia the booking has proved contentious, with politician Nikolay Novichkov calling for Ye to be investigated and for the shows to be scrapped unless he voices support for the "special military operation", while legislator Vitaly Milonov suggested he perform traditional Russian songs instead. Ye has recently toured to large crowds in the US, Turkey, the Netherlands, Georgia, Albania, Portugal and Kazakhstan in support of his latest album, Bully.
- Promoter says official letter was approved but contract never signed
- Say Agency maintains sold-out shows are still going ahead
- Booking has sparked criticism both in Russia and abroad
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Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, is due to play two concerts in St Petersburg, Russia, on 10 and 11 October, promoted by Say Agency. The shows would be his biggest Western performance in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began, which is significant because Western sanctions and cultural boycotts have made such bookings rare and politically sensitive. A row has broken out over whether the concerts can actually go ahead, centred on Gazprom Arena, the stadium where they are meant to take place.
Ye has attracted controversy in the past for making antisemitic remarks and expressing sympathy for Nazism, which led several countries, including the UK, Italy and France, to block his concerts on public safety grounds; he apologised for this behaviour in January. Even in Russia the booking is not without objection, with some politicians questioning why he should perform unless he supports the government's actions in Ukraine, while others have suggested alternative material for him to play. He has otherwise been touring widely this year in support of his new album, Bully.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those who believe the shows should go ahead argue that touring is a legitimate commercial and artistic activity, and that a promoter who has sold tickets in good faith deserves the chance to honour that commitment rather than see it collapse over an unsigned contract. They point out that Ye has performed to large, willing audiences across several countries this year, including some that maintain difficult international relationships, and that he apologised in January for his past remarks, which they feel should count for something. On this view, denying entertainers access to Russian audiences achieves little beyond punishing ordinary concertgoers, and artists should not be treated as instruments of foreign policy. They would also note that Russian officials themselves are divided, suggesting the objections are not simply a case of a hostile state welcoming a pariah, but a genuine, contested cultural question even within Russia.
The case against
Those opposed argue that a Western performer headlining Russia's largest stadium, becoming the most prominent Western act to do so since the invasion of Ukraine, risks lending cultural legitimacy to a state subject to sanctions and widespread boycotts, undermining the solidarity many nations have tried to maintain with Ukraine. They point to Ye's documented history of antisemitic statements and expressed sympathy for Nazism as reason enough for serious caution, noting that several Western governments have already refused him venues on public safety grounds rather than mere disapproval. For this side, the apology he offered in January does not necessarily settle the matter, particularly given the gravity of what was said, and they would argue that promoters and venues have a responsibility to weigh reputational and safety concerns above ticket revenue, especially for a show of this scale and visibility.
Coverage
- Daily Mail — Russia cancels Kanye West: St Petersburg stadium abruptly scraps plans for performance by shamed rapper – as politician condemns star’s ‘disgusting antics’
- The Guardian — Russian stadium says it will not host Kanye concerts – but promoter says shows have not been cancelled