Following a series of scrapped performances across the UK, Switzerland, France and Poland, Kanye West’s attempt to bring his latest tour to Italy has ignited a fierce political firestorm, Variety reports.
The controversial American artist, now operating under the moniker Ye, is drawing heavy criticism over his scheduled headline slot due to his well-documented history of making antisemitic statements.
The gig is scheduled in for July 18 at the 103,000-capacity RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy. According to promoters, this would mark one of the grandest standalone shows of the rapper’s entire career.
However, the choice of venue has touched a raw nerve. Reggio Emilia holds a Gold Medal for Military Valour, awarded in 1950 to honour the city’s vital resistance against Nazi forces during the Second World War.
A coalition of outrage
Consequently, a coalition of trade unions, anti-fascist organisations, politicians and the local Jewish community are vehemently demanding the event be pulled.
Pina Picierno, a prominent Democratic Party member and vice president of the European Parliament, is pleading with national authorities to step in. Speaking to La Gazzetta di Reggio, she highlighted that Britain and France took decisive action to block the artist’s appearances. She expressed dismay that the Italian government remains seemingly passive while 68,000 tickets have already been purchased.
Meanwhile, Marco Massari, the city’s mayor, is treading a cautious line. While explicitly condemning the musician’s past rhetoric, Massari insisted that the ultimate authority to ban West from entering the country or performing rests solely with the Ministry of the Interior. Thus far, government officials in Rome have remained completely silent on the issue.
Free speech versus public offence
West’s recent track record includes highly offensive social media posts praising Nazis, selling apparel adorned with swastikas and releasing a provocative track titled «Heil Hitler». The rapper did issue a formal apology via a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal this past January, claiming his actions were the result of bipolar-induced manic episodes.
Victor Yari Milani, the artistic director for the Hellwatt Festival, justified the booking to the ANSA news agency by framing the concert as an exercise in free artistic expression. He noted the public’s understandable anger but pointed to the January apology where West denied harbouring antisemitic or Nazi sympathies.
Milani also revealed that promoters have urged the star to issue a specific apology to the Italian public.
Representatives for the artist have not yet responded to media inquiries. The Reggio Emilia bill also features performances from Martin Garrix, Rita Ora and Travis Scott. Should the Italian show go ahead, West’s remaining European itinerary includes visits to Portugal, Madrid, the Netherlands and Turkey.
