Italian authorities cancelled Kanye West’s Italy concert and Travis Scott’s RCF Arena show in Reggio Emilia, citing security concerns over two major July events.
Travis Scott had been scheduled to perform at the RCF Arena on July 17. West, who now goes by Ye, was due to headline the Hellwat Festival at the same venue on July 18.
Reggio Emilia prefect Salvatore Angieri announced the cancellation on Saturday. He cited the large number of people expected in the city within 24 hours and a “concrete risk” of protests around West’s appearance.
The RCF Arena can hold 103,000 spectators. The planned show would have ranked among West’s largest arena appearances.
Calls to cancel West’s concert had grown since April. The city’s Jewish community, anti-fascist resistance groups, trade unions and politicians had urged officials to stop the event.
West has faced criticism over antisemitic statements, a swastika T-shirt sale on his website and a song titled “Heil Hitler.” He has also faced bans and the cancellation of shows in the UK, France, Switzerland and Poland.
In January, West published a full-page apology in the Wall Street Journal. He linked his behaviour to manic episodes connected to bipolar disorder.
Authorities said Scott’s cancellation was a security decision, not a ban on the artist performing in Italy. Scott’s Astroworld festival in Houston saw 10 people die in a crowd crush in 2021.
Read: Kanye West Bianca Censori Video Draws Attention
Hellwat Festival organisers said they would try to rebook West’s show on the same date at another venue near Reggio Emilia under a different jurisdiction.
West began his European summer tour at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium. Scott also performed at the show after the pair recently collaborated on “Father” from West’s album “Bully.”
