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Kanye West concerts in Saint Petersburg cancelled
Two concerts by American rapper Kanye West, known artistically as Ye, scheduled for October 10 and 11 at the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg, have been officially cancelled. The Moscow-based organizer, Say Agency, announced the cancellation via Telegram, stating the shows “cannot take place on the scheduled dates” and promising ticket refunds.
While the organizers did not provide an official reason, the events faced significant controversy. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized the planned performances, calling them “unacceptable” due to West’s past antisemitic remarks and perceived glorification of Nazi symbols. The Gazprom Arena had previously stated it had no rental agreement with the promoters.
Reports from Russian media, including Kommersant, suggest the cancellation may have resulted from a “call from above” in Moscow. Authorities are reportedly investigating the organizers for potential fraud, as ticket sales reportedly began before all necessary permits were secured. The cancellation marks the end of weeks of uncertainty regarding what would have been the most high-profile appearance by a Western artist in Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Entities
Gazprom Arena · Kanye West · Kommersant · Maria Zakharova · SAY Agency · Saint Petersburg · Say-agency · St. Petersburg
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Gazprom Arena stated that the concerts could not take place at their venue due to a lack of contracts. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ticket prices for the cancelled shows ranged from approximately 100 to 1,700 euros. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Authorities have reportedly launched investigations into the organizers for potential fraud. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Refunds for sold tickets will begin on October 12. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Moscow-based concert organizer Say-agency announced via Telegram that the scheduled Ye concerts in St. Petersburg are cancelled. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The two planned performances in St. Petersburg were scheduled for October 10 and 11. www.onetz.de