Kanye West's Russia shows cancelled after stadium row
Kanye West's planned concerts in St. Petersburg, Russia, have been officially cancelled following venue disputes and public backlash regarding his past antisemitic comments. The cancellation highlights the political sensitivity of hosting Western artists in Russia during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the intersection of celebrity culture, geopolitical tensions, and the global intolerance for hate speech.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Riyah Collins BBC Newsbeat Getty Images St Petersburg's Gazprom Arena said in August it would not host Ye Two stadium gigs in Russia by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, have officially been cancelled.
West had been due to perform at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on 10 and 11 October.
But there was confusion in the lead-up to the shows, as the venue had said it wouldn't host him for what would have been the biggest show by a western artist since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
In a post on messaging app Telegram, gig organisers Say Agency confirmed the concerts had been cancelled with "sincere regret".
"The Ye concerts in St Petersburg will not be able to take place on the scheduled dates," the Moscow-based agency wrote.
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