Russian officials are reportedly considering cancelling Kanye West's concerts in Russia over fears his Nazi links could undermine the country's war efforts in Ukraine.
Ye is due to perform at St Petersburg's 68,000-seat Gazprom Arena on October 10 and 11, just days after Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday. There has been speculation that Putin could meet the controversial star in a move designed to show Russia is not entirely culturally isolated over the war in Ukraine.
Kremlin's Concerns
However, the gigs appear to be causing problems for the Kremlin, with reports indicating the performances may have been canned. Svetlana Zhurova, deputy chairwoman of the Russian parliament's international affairs committee, said: "The main issue here is whether our president's working schedule and the artist's own schedule can be made to coincide. Hypothetically, such a possibility exists."
Gazprom Arena later declared the shows could not take place because it had not signed a rental agreement with the organisers, despite previously announcing the concerts itself and insisting the news was "no joke".
Conflicting Reports
Two Russian government sources reportedly told St Petersburg outlet Fontanka that the reversal followed a call "from above". One said the concerts had not been approved by all the necessary authorities, while another claimed the arena had simply been instructed to cancel them.
Promoter Say Agency denied the concerts had been cancelled and said it was the victim of a "fabricated information attack". Gazprom Arena responded: "We have not signed any contracts to lease the stadium for this event. No such contract exists. Consequently, the concert cannot take place at our venue."
Tickets and Controversy
Say Agency boss Anna Subcheva said Ye had signed a contract for two shows and had already received an advance. His total fee was reportedly more than 1.5 billion roubles, or around £11.8 million.
The proposed concerts also sparked controversy over Ye's antisemitic remarks, praise for Adolf Hitler and sale of merchandise displaying Nazi imagery. Holding the shows in the city formerly known as Leningrad, where approximately one million people died during the Nazi siege, risked undermining Putin's claim that his invasion of Ukraine is a fight against "Nazism".
More than 100,000 tickets have reportedly been sold, while the dates still remain on Ye's official website with tickets available for purchase despite the reported dispute.
