Kanye West, the American rapper now known as Ye, has officially postponed his highly anticipated concert in France, a decision that comes just weeks after his UK visa was cancelled, leading to the scrapping of his Wireless Festival appearances. The show was scheduled to take place at the Marseille Velodrome on June 11, but it faced escalating public and political backlash, culminating in this latest development.
Political Opposition Mounts in France
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez expressed firm determination to prevent the concert from proceeding, telling Politico on Tuesday that he was "very determined" in his stance. This follows earlier criticism from Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan, who declared in a March post on X that he refused to let the city "be a showcase for those who promote hatred and unapologetic Nazism." Payan added unequivocally, "Kanye West is not welcome at the Velodrome."
West's Statement and Apology Efforts
In a post on X, West announced the postponement, stating, "After much thought and consideration, it is my sole decision to postpone my show in Marseille, France until further notice." He later followed up, emphasizing that his fans were "everything" to him and acknowledging, "I know it takes time to understand the sincerity of my commitment to make amends." West added, "I take full responsibility for what's mine but I don't want to put my fans in the middle of it."
This comes after West took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal in January titled "To Those I've Hurt," where he apologized and asserted, "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people." In the letter, he attributed his past behavior to a "four-month-long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour" linked to his bipolar disorder, which he said "destroyed my life."
UK Visa Denial and Wireless Festival Cancellation
Earlier this month, West was denied a UK visa, resulting in the cancellation of his headline performances at the Wireless Festival in London's Finsbury Park in July. Ticket holders have been refunded. According to the Press Association, West applied to travel to the UK via an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) on Monday, but the Home Office intervened, stopping him on grounds that his presence would "not be conducive to the public good." Initially, his ETA was granted online before ministers stepped in.
Government and Community Reactions
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the initial invitation, stating, "Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless." He affirmed, "This Government stands firmly with the Jewish community and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism. We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values."
Additionally, it is understood that the Mayor of London's office refused permission for a West concert at the London Stadium in Stratford this summer, with sources citing community concerns and potential reputational damage to the city.
The postponement in France and cancellations in the UK highlight the ongoing fallout from West's repeated antisemitic remarks and use of Nazi imagery, which have sparked widespread controversy and led to significant political and public opposition across Europe.
