Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, has decided to delay his upcoming concert in Marseille after French authorities indicated they would move to prohibit the event. This choice by Ye came shortly after he was barred from entering the U.K., where he was set to headline the Wireless Festival in July due to controversy surrounding his history of antisemitic comments.
In a statement on the social platform X, Ye expressed that the decision to postpone the Marseille show was entirely his own, emphasizing the need for time to truly understand his commitment to making amends. The rapper, who officially changed his name in 2021, was originally slated to perform at Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome on June 11.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had affirmed the government’s commitment to exploring all avenues to prevent the concert from proceeding as scheduled. Earlier, Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan had opposed Ye’s visit to the city, citing concerns over promoting hatred and Nazism.
Ye has faced significant backlash for his antisemitic comments and expressions of admiration for Adolf Hitler, including releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler” and selling a swastika T-shirt on his website. In response to the controversy, Ye issued a public apology in January, attributing his actions to a manic episode fueled by his bipolar disorder.
In his recent communication on X, Ye acknowledged his responsibility for his actions while expressing his desire not to involve his fans in the situation, highlighting the importance of his supporters and looking ahead to future performances.