Kanye West concerts in St. Petersburg canceled

Sold-out concerts by Kanye West, also known as Ye, scheduled for October 10 and 11 at the Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia, have been officially canceled. The Moscow-based promoter, Say Agency, announced the cancellation on Telegram, stating that the shows “will not be able to take place” and promising ticket refunds, though no rescheduling has been announced.

The cancellation follows significant political pressure and controversy. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described the planned performances as “unacceptable,” citing West’s history of antisemitic remarks and alleged glorification of Hitler. Additionally, Nikolay Novichkov, a deputy of the 8th State Duma, called for an investigation into West’s comments and suggested the concerts should only proceed if the rapper demonstrated support for Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.

There was also conflicting information regarding the venue. While the Gazprom Arena initially promoted the concerts as a “major event,” management later denied signing a rental agreement, stating they were not responsible for the booking. Reports indicate that Russian law enforcement has launched a preliminary investigation into the event organizers for potential fraud.