Kanye West Postpones Marseille Concert Amid Official Opposition

Rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, announced the postponement of his concert scheduled for June 11 at the Orange Velodrome (Stade Vélodrome) in Marseille, France. The announcement followed public opposition from French officials and recent decisions by other countries to restrict his entry or performances.

The Announcement

On Wednesday, Kanye West announced via the social media platform X that he was postponing his Marseille concert. He stated the decision was made "after much thought and consideration."

"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."

He added, "My fans are everything to me. Looking forward to the next shows. See you at the top of the globe."

No new date for the Marseille performance has been announced. The postponement is described as being "until further notice."

Official Opposition in France

The postponement followed significant public opposition from French authorities.

Marseille Mayor's Statement: On March 4, Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan stated on X that West was "not welcome" to perform in the city. Payan wrote: "I refuse to let Marseille become a showcase for those who promote hatred and unapologetic Nazism. Kanye West is not welcome at the Vélodrome, our temple of living together and of all Marseillais."
French Interior Ministry's Actions: Media reports indicated that French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had been exploring legal options to block the concert. According to his office, the minister pledged to explore "all possibilities" to prevent the show from proceeding.
Legal Context: The French newspaper Le Monde, citing the country's highest administrative court, reported that local authorities can only ban a concert under strict conditions, such as if statements at the event risk constituting a criminal offense and if public order is threatened.
Official Meetings: Minister Nuñez held meetings last week with the prefect of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Jacques Witkowski, and Mayor Payan to determine legal avenues to block the concert.

International Performance Restrictions

The situation in France follows similar actions by other governments.

United Kingdom: In early April, the British government refused West permission to enter the country after he was booked to headline London's Wireless Festival in July. The government cited his past antisemitic comments and expressions of admiration for Nazism. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that West "should never have been invited to perform."
Australia: In July 2023, Australian officials barred West from entering the country after he released a song titled "Heil Hitler."

Background Context

The official opposition in multiple countries is linked to a series of past statements and actions by West:

He has made public comments described as antisemitic and expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler.
In 2023, he released a song titled "Heil Hitler" and advertised a T-shirt featuring a swastika for sale on his website.
In January 2024, West published a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal apologizing for his past behavior. In the advertisement, he attributed his actions to an undiagnosed brain injury and untreated bipolar disorder, and renounced past expressions of admiration for Adolf Hitler. He described experiencing a "four-month long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior."

Recent Performances

Despite the international restrictions, West has performed in the United States and Mexico City in 2024.

A representative for Kanye West did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Variety magazine regarding the French authorities' actions.