Kanye West postpones France gig until further notice

Kanye West, also known as Ye, has declared that his performance in Marseille, France, will be delayed indefinitely. The decision follows the recent cancellation of the Wireless Festival in the UK, where the rapper was set to headline, after the government barred him from entering the country. French reports suggest Interior Minister Laurent Nunez was contemplating a ban on the 11 June event.

An anonymous figure connected to Nunez shared with AFP that the minister was resolute in his intent to prevent the concert. This move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of West’s public remarks, which have sparked controversy over the years. His comments, ranging from antisemitic to pro-Nazi, have drawn criticism, including a 2022 social media post referencing “death con 3 on Jewish people” and a 2023 podcast appearance where he praised Hitler.

“After much thought and consideration, it is my sole decision to postpone my show in Marseille, France until further notice,” West stated on X early Wednesday.

In a subsequent message, the rapper added: “I know it takes time to understand the sincerity of my commitment to make amends. I take full responsibility for what’s mine but I don’t want to put my fans in the middle of it. My fans are everything to me. Looking forward to the next shows.”

West’s European tour, which included the Wireless Festival and the Marseille gig, was initially planned for this summer. However, as of Wednesday, his official website still listed performances in Turkey, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Portugal through May, June, and July. Additionally, he was set to perform in New Delhi, India, in late May. Dutch officials, including Minister Bart van den Brink, had previously stated there were no plans to restrict his entry.

The UK government cited West’s presence as not being conducive to the public good when they denied his travel request. His absence from the festival led to the cancellation of his scheduled European dates, including the Marseille concert. In January, West released a detailed statement in the Wall Street Journal, asserting he is not a Nazi or antisemite and expressing his support for Jewish people. He also attributed his controversial remarks to bipolar disorder, which he claimed caused him to “lose touch with reality.”