Kanye West faces arrest in São Paulo if he repeats anti-Semitic statements. He is also still looking for a venue.
The São Paulo State Prosecutor’s Office (MPSP) has ordered that Kanye West be arrested if he makes pro-Nazi statements or performs his anti-Semitic song “H***l H***r” during his upcoming show in São Paulo on November 29th.
Editorial recommendations
Mayor: “We will do everything necessary”
“No one who propagates Nazism will play or sing in public municipal facilities,” said São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes on November 10, according to Billboard, citing Brazilian newspaper Metropoles. “We do not accept this and will do everything necessary to ensure that no one who propagates Nazism carries out any activities here in the city of São Paulo.” Nunes continued: “Here in the city of São Paulo we will not allow events by people who propagate National Socialism in urban spaces.”
According to media reports, the show’s organizers, Guilherme Cavalcante and Jean Fabrício Ramos (Faublous Fabz), were also threatened with arrest if West promoted National Socialism in any way.
West continues to search for a venue
It is unclear whether the show can take place in São Paulo, as Kanye West is still looking for a new venue. As Billboard reported, the city government canceled the show at the Interlagos racetrack due to West’s previous anti-Semitic comments.
Prosecutor Ana Beatriz Pereira de Souza had previously banned Frontini West from wearing Nazi symbols on his clothing during his stay in Brazil in October.
Meeting with Rabbi as an apology
In early November, Kanye West met with a rabbi to apologize for his anti-Semitic comments. The meeting with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto took place on November 4th in New York. West cited his bipolar disorder as the reason for his statements.
“I’m really grateful to be able to sit here with you today and take responsibility,” he told the rabbi, according to The Independent. “I was struggling with various issues related to my bipolar disorder, so my ideas pushed me to extremes where I forgot about protecting those around me and myself.”
He added: “That’s why I wanted to come here and take responsibility. Sometimes people don’t know much about bipolar disorder and its causes or how to behave when you have this illness.”
Rabbi calls West a “very good person”
The rabbi then called West a “very good person” through an interpreter and hugged him. Pinto later released a statement on Instagram: “A person is not defined by his mistakes, but by the way he corrects them. This is the true strength of man: the ability to return, to learn and to build bridges of love and peace.” He also shared a video that shows West and Pinto with their hands pressed.
Kanye West attracted attention several times for anti-Semitic statements
In recent years, Kanye West has been noticed several times for anti-Semitism. Earlier this year, the rapper sold white T-shirts with the image of a swastika on his website. In 2023, he said the Jewish community was holding him back. A year earlier, he had called on Jewish people to “forgive Hitler.” He also stated that he did not believe in the term anti-Semitism and compared the Holocaust to pornography, as NME reported.
In October 2022, X suspended Ye’s account after he wrote, “I’m a little tired tonight but when I wake up I’m going Death Con 3.” [sic] start against the JEWS. The funny thing is that I can’t actually be an anti-Semite because black people are also Jews. You played with me and tried to discredit anyone who opposes your agenda.” West later attempted to walk back some of the comments.