Kanye West, also known as Ye, has repeatedly been at the center of controversy in recent years.
The reason behind the cancellation is the widespread reactions against West for his anti-Semitic, racist and Nazi-speak statements. ZUMAPress
Kanye West’s the concert in Poland has been canceled due to government pressure. This is due to the US rapper’s several anti-Semitic, racist and pro-Nazi comments.
The concert was scheduled to take place at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów on June 19 and would have been West’s first appearance in Poland in 15 years.
The reason behind the cancellation is the widespread reactions against West for his anti-Semitic, racist and pro-Nazi statements. Polish Minister of Culture and Heritage Marta Cienkowska has previously called the decision to allow him to perform in the country “unacceptable”. He has also emphasized that culture cannot serve as a space for spreading hatred.
West, also known as Ye, has repeatedly been at the center of controversy in recent years. He started selling swastika-themed products online, which led to his online store being shut down by Shopify. He later released a song referencing Nazism and has made several anti-Semitic comments.
In January, he published a paid ad in the Wall Street Journal apologizing for past statements and denying he was anti-Semitic or a Nazi, saying he had “lost touch with reality” due to bipolar disorder.
The European tour has faced several cancellations. West’s visa was denied by the UK, leading to the cancellation of his performance at the Wireless Festival and the entire festival being reassessed. The planned concert in Marseille, France has also been postponed until now.
In Poland, the decision has also been justified by historical sensitivity. The country was one of the worst affected by World War II, and during the Nazi German occupation, millions of Poles, including a large part of the country’s Jewish population, were killed. Promoting Nazi symbols is a crime in Poland that can result in imprisonment.
According to the Polish authorities, several administrative levels have been involved in the matter, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has agreed that the concert should not be held.