Kanye West's Russia shows officially cancelled after weeks of uncertainty
Kanye West's planned concerts in St Petersburg, Russia, have been officially cancelled following weeks of uncertainty and public backlash. The cancellation follows criticism regarding the artist's past antisemitic comments and the venue's lack of a formal rental agreement.
Why it matters
Illustrates the intersection of celebrity culture, geopolitical tensions, and the impact of public controversy on international touring.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, 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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