Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, postponed his upcoming show in the city of Marseille after French authorities said they would seek to ban the concert.
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Why Did Ye Cancel His Show In France?
Ye’s decision came a week after he was banned from entering the U.K. Wireless Festival had booked him to headline in July. However, he faced backlash over his history of antisemitic remarks. On Tuesday (April 14), he shared the update on the Marseille show.
“After much thought and consideration, it is my sole decision to postpone my show in Marseille, France until further notice,” Ye wrote on Wednesday on the social network X. “I know it takes time to understand the sincerity of my commitment to make amends.”
The rapper, who changed his name in 2021, had been expected to play at Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome on June 11.
What Did French Authorities Say About Kanye West?
French Interior minister Laurent Nuñez had pledged to explore “all possibilities” to make sure the show would not go on as planned, according to his office. Also, earlier this year, Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan opposed the rapper’s visit to one of France’s most multicultural cities. The city has a history of immigration stretching back centuries.
“I refuse to let Marseille be a showcase for those who promote hatred and unabashed Nazism,” Payan said. “Kanye West is not welcome at the Vélodrome, our temple of community and home to all Marseillais.”
Ye has drawn widespread condemnation for making antisemitic remarks and voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler. He previously released a song called “Heil Hitler” and advertised a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website last year. Officials in Australia canceled the musician’s visa in July after the release of the single.
Ye Previously Apologized For His Past Antisemitic Behavior
The 48-year-old apologized in January with a letter published as a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal. He said his bipolar disorder led him to fall into “a four-month long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life.”
In his latest message on X, Ye said: “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. See you at the top of the globe.”
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
See you at the top of the globe 🌏
— ye (@kanyewest) April 15, 2026
Associated Press reporter Samuel Petrequin contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
