Authorities in Italy have banned a concert by US rapper Kanye West, scheduled for July 18 in Reggio Emilia, citing public safety concerns. The decision was announced by the prefect of the province, Salvatore Angieri, following requests from various groups, including the local Jewish community, who had expressed reservations about his participation in the Pulse of Gaia Festival.
Travis Scott concert also canceled
Another concert by US rapper Travis Scott, planned for July 17, has also been scrapped. The prefecture explained that the ban was imposed due to the close timing of the events and the anticipated large crowd within a 24-hour period, which posed risks to public order and safety. Additionally, the cancellation of previous concerts by the rapper in other countries and the concrete risk of counter-demonstrations were taken into account.
Kanye West's controversial history
West, also known as Ye, has faced backlash for statements and songs glorifying Adolf Hitler and antisemitic remarks, which he attributed to his bipolar disorder. This controversy has led to several concert cancellations. Last month, the UK government banned him from entering the country, and a festival in July was canceled. He was also forced to scrap a planned concert in Marseille, France, and has been stopped from performing in Poland and Switzerland.
Despite these setbacks, West performed in Istanbul on Saturday and is still scheduled to appear at concerts in the Netherlands on June 6 and 8, in Tirana on July 11, and in Prague on July 25. In January, he took out a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal, stating he is 'not a Nazi or an antisemite' and expressing love for Jewish people.
