Italy bans Kanye West concert after Jewish community raised concerns

ROME, Italy — Italy has banned a concert involving US rapper Kanye West due to take place in July in the northern city of Reggio Emilia following appeals from the local Jewish community and a consumer group, authorities say.

Authorities also scrapped a planned July concert in Reggio Emilia featuring US rapper Travis Scott, who has faced scrutiny over safety at his concerts since a 2021 crowd crush at the Astroworld festival in Houston that killed 10 people and injured hundreds.

Scott had been due to perform at the “Pulse of Gaia Festival” on July 17 at the 103,000-seat RCF Arena, with West scheduled to appear the following day. There is no immediate comment from Ye, Scott or the event organizers in Italy.

The local prefect, Salvatore Angieri, ordered the cancellations because of concerns over public order and security, including the potential for protests.

Angieri says the decision was taken following requests from consumer group CODACONS and the Jewish community in Modena and Reggio Emilia, which had raised particular concerns about West.

Authorities cite the close timing of the two shows and the high influx of spectators expected within 24 hours as factors behind the ban. They also point to the cancellation of other concerts by West in Europe and the “concrete risk” of protests.

West, also known as Ye, has faced a wave of cancellations across Europe this summer following years of antisemitic remarks, including statements praising Adolf Hitler and the release of content using Nazi imagery.

The rapper has apologized for his past remarks and claimed they were linked to untreated bipolar disorder. He continues to perform in countries that have welcomed him, and is due to hold a concert in Istanbul later on Saturday.

He is also set to hold concerts in the Netherlands next month, after its migration minister said there were no legal grounds to deny him entry.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.