Kanye West St Petersburg Concerts Cancelled After Russian Foreign Ministry Objections
Two upcoming concerts in Russia by the US rapper Kanye West—who has legally changed his name to Ye—have been cancelled by event organisers following direct pushback from the country’s foreign ministry. The performances were scheduled to take place at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on October 10 and 11.
Moscow-based Say Agency announced via the messaging app Telegram that the shows would no longer proceed. The organiser stated that ticket refunds would become available starting Monday, October 12, with specific instructions regarding the conditions of the refunds to follow.
Russia cancels events after Zakharova denounces West
The cancellations arrived after Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova publicly denounced the scheduled events as unacceptable. Zakharova pointed directly to West’s previous glorification of Hitler, noting that Russia was invaded by the Nazis in World War Two.
Additional resistance came from within Russia itself. Pro-war bloggers questioned the wisdom of hosting an American artist while the United States provided military and financial support for Ukraine.
West previously caused widespread backlash by selling swastika T-shirts and releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler.” He later took out a full-page apology advertisement in The Wall Street Journal titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” in which he denied being a Nazi or an antisemite and attributed his actions to a manic episode caused by bipolar disorder.
Visa denials and safety concerns scrap international shows
The scrapped Russian dates form part of a broader pattern of international concert cancellations and travel restrictions for the rapper. In April, West was denied a UK visa, which forced the cancellation of his headline performances at London’s Wireless Festival. The visa denial and subsequent festival cancellation followed a backlash over his antisemitic remarks.
That same month, a planned show in Marseille, France, was postponed. In May, authorities in Italy cancelled another scheduled concert over public order and safety concerns. West had been booked to perform at the Pulse of Gaia Festival at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia on July 18, but the city’s prefect, Salvatore Angieri, stopped the gig following “concerns” from the local Jewish community.
Despite these international roadblocks, West has performed in several countries. He held his first major US concert in over five years in Los Angeles last April, and subsequently played shows in Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
Questions and Answers About the Cancelled St Petersburg Shows
Why were the St Petersburg concerts cancelled?
The Moscow-based organiser Say Agency announced the cancellation via Telegram following intense public and official scrutiny. Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the shows as unacceptable due to the rapper’s past glorification of Hitler, while domestic pro-war bloggers questioned hosting an American artist while the US backs Ukraine.
When can ticket holders get their money back?
Say Agency confirmed that ticket refunds will become available starting Monday, October 12. The organiser stated that official details regarding the specific rules and conditions for the refunds will follow.
Has Kanye West responded to the Russian cancellations?
As of the announcement, West has not made any public comments regarding the cancellation of his Gazprom Arena performances.
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