Jesus Is King rapper, Kanye West, who was scheduled to have a music concert in Italy on October 20, had the event rescheduled to October 27 due to a lack of permit and a rail strike.
New information hints that West’s music concert might not happen as planned.
The organizers of the concert also stated that the heavy rain forecast had left the open-air venue terribly muddy.
“Our aim is to ensure the safety and security of all and if there is a transport issue then the concert cannot go ahead safely and as it is open air the heavy rain forecast would have also created problems,” a statement said.
According to Billboard Italy, Ye had been planning to perform at RCF Arena, (formerly known as Campovolo), in Reggio Emilia on October 27. Though no official statement was issued, sources claim the concert was being organized by Italian promoter, Vivo Concerti.
Related stories
In August, during Travis Scott’s concert at Circus Maximus where he performed his Utopia album, the controversial rapper made a surprise appearance on stage. This sparked rumors and speculations about Kanye working on a music concert in Italy as well.
Prior reports indicated the concert in Italy would be the official global premiere of West’s collaboration album with ‘Ty Dolla $ign’.
News concerning the duo’s album first emerged earlier this month when new music from the duo debuted during a “private listening party” in Italy.
Though the concert was originally planned for October 20, it was later delayed until October 27. The possibility of the concert being canceled arrived a week after a stage being built at the site was dismantled.
The Donda album maker is said to have returned to the U.S. from Italy, where he had been visiting in recent months with his wife, Bianca Censori.
West’s concert at RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia which kept his fans in suspense is rumored to have been canceled due to disapproval from the locals for his past antisemitic statements.
Ye’s support for Adolf Hitler sparked controversy and criticism from local feminist and anti-fascist associations.
Albertina Soliani, vice president of ANPI, the National Association of Italian Partisans, said:
“It’s time to say enough to these people who believe they can say what they want. Someone can be a fantastic singer but then they are also judged by what they say, and West has made some inhumane declarations and with what’s happening in the world today we cannot accept this concert.
We are focused every day with carrying certain values, which are liberty and democracy and then with this we just have to start again from the beginning. In my opinion he should stay at home… [W]e are on the side of the oppressed and not those who preach hate.”
Several major record labels have declined to work with Ye to promote his collaborative album with ‘Ty Dolla $ign’ due to his antisemitic tirades from last year. The duo has reportedly been shopping the forthcoming album to a number of independent labels. One record label in particular has shown interest in promoting the album ― Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group.
Def Jam is also said to have cut ties with the rapper after the release of Donda in August 2021 due to his antisemitic statements and approval of Adolf Hitler.