Kanye West to Perform in Russia Amid Controversy
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, will perform in St Petersburg this October, becoming the most well-known western star to play in Russia since the start of the Ukraine war.
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is set to perform in St Petersburg, Russia this October. The shows, scheduled for 10 and 11 October at the Gazprom Arena, will make him the most well-known western star to play in Russia since the start of the Ukraine war.
The artist has been surrounded by controversy in recent years due to his antisemitic outbursts and expressions of sympathy towards nazism. This has led to some countries and venues being uneasy about hosting his tour. Despite this, Russian fans have rushed to secure tickets, with nearly all of the most expensive tickets costing upwards of $1,850 being snapped up within hours. The cheapest tickets, priced at about $105, had also sold out by the evening.
Ye has been trying to rehabilitate his image after facing backlash for his past comments. He took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal apologising for his antisemitic behaviour and discussing his struggles with mental health. However, the apology has done little to quell the backlash. Ye has faced resistance to performing in several European countries, with planned concerts in the UK, France and Italy cancelled and calls elsewhere for him to be barred from performing.
Despite the controversy, Ye has found a more receptive audience elsewhere. A record-breaking concert in Istanbul drew 118,000 fans, while 70,000 came to watch him in Tbilisi. Earlier this month, he also performed a sold-out show in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
His St Petersburg dates are likely to draw pushback within Russia, where conservative activists have increasingly sought to sever the country's ties with western cultural influence. Expressions of support for nazism can carry lengthy prison sentences in Russia. The politician Nikolay Novichkov has already called for an investigation into Ye's past remarks praising Hitler, including his 2022 claim that there were "good things" about the Nazi leader. Novichkov also suggested that the concerts should be cancelled unless the singer publicly expresses "moral support for Russia and the special military operation".
Ye's visit could offer a propaganda coup, bolstering the Kremlin's efforts to show that Russia remains connected to the outside world despite sweeping sanctions and calls for cultural boycotts. A trickle of western artists have performed in Russia in recent years, including Lil Pump, Flo Rida, and Jason Derulo.
| Artist | Concert Location | Date | | --- | --- | --- | | Ye | St Petersburg | 10-11 October | | Lil Pump | Russia | - | | Flo Rida | Russia | - | | Jason Derulo | Russia | - |
