Italy’s authorities have canceled two upcoming concerts featuring American rappers Kanye West and Travis Scott in July in Reggio Emilia due to public order and security concerns. The decision was made by the local prefect, Salvatore Angieri, fearing potential protests and disruptions.
Kanye West, also known as Ye, has faced numerous cancellations of his European tour dates this summer following his history of making antisemitic remarks, including comments praising Adolf Hitler and the use of Nazi imagery. Travis Scott, on the other hand, has been under scrutiny for concert safety since a tragic incident at the Astroworld festival in Houston last year, where 10 people lost their lives and hundreds were injured.
The Pulse of Gaia Festival, where Scott and Ye were scheduled to perform on consecutive days at the 103,000-seat RCF Arena, faced opposition from consumer group CODACONS and the Jewish community in Modena and Reggio Emilia. The authorities cited the clustering of the two events and the expected large crowds within 24 hours as reasons for the ban, particularly noting the likelihood of protests.
Ye faced similar issues in the UK, where he was denied entry for a music festival due to concerns about his past remarks. Ye has since apologized for his comments, attributing them to untreated bipolar disorder. Despite cancellations in some European countries, Ye is continuing his tour in locations that are welcoming, with plans for concerts in Istanbul and the Netherlands. No immediate response has been received from Ye, Scott, or the event organizers in Italy.
