Kanye West’s Russia Concerts Canceled After Venue Says No Contract Was Signed

Kanye West’s planned concerts in Russia have been thrown into major uncertainty.

Saint Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena says the October 10 and 11 shows cannot take place at the venue because no rental agreement was ever signed. However, the concert promoter is pushing back and insists the dates are still on.

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The 80,000-capacity venue had previously promoted the concerts, even branding Ye “the most influential musical artist of our time.” Tickets moved rapidly following the announcement.

However, Gazprom Arena later reversed course, stating that Moscow-based concert agency Say Agency was organizing the events and that the venue itself had never signed a rental contract.

Say Agency has disputed that account, insisting the concerts have not been canceled. The promoter says it received approval from the venue to announce the shows and was working toward signing a formal contract by August 27.

Russian reporting has also fueled speculation that a “call from above” may have contributed to the venue’s sudden reversal.

The proposed concerts had attracted criticism from Russian politicians and public figures over Ye’s history of antisemitic remarks and praise of Adolf Hitler.

It marks another hurdle for the Rap star, who has faced concert cancellations elsewhere amid continued fallout from his past conduct.

In January, Ye issued a public apology to the Jewish and Black communities, declaring that he was “not a Nazi or an antisemite.”

As of writing, Say Agency maintains that the Russia shows remain in play.