Italy has prohibited two upcoming concerts featuring American rappers Kanye West and Travis Scott in July in Reggio Emilia, citing concerns over public order, security, and potential protests. West, also known as Ye, has faced a series of cancellations in Europe this summer due to previous antisemitic remarks, including statements that praised Adolf Hitler and incorporated Nazi imagery.
Scott, known for safety issues at his concerts following a fatal crowd crush at the Astroworld festival in Houston last year, was scheduled to perform at the Pulse of Gaia Festival on July 17 at the 103,000-seat RCF Arena, with Ye set to appear the next day.
The decision to cancel the concerts came after requests from consumer group CODACONS and the Jewish community in Modena and Reggio Emilia, expressing specific concerns about Ye. Authorities pointed to the proximity of the two events, the anticipated large crowd within 24 hours, recent cancellations of Ye’s shows in Europe, and the perceived risk of protests.
Ye was denied entry into the U.K. in April for past antisemitic remarks deemed not in the public interest. He later postponed a show in Marseille amid reports of French government opposition, and concerts in Poland and Switzerland were also called off. Ye attributed his remarks to untreated bipolar disorder and continued performing in countries that welcomed him, including an upcoming concert in Istanbul.
Despite these developments, Ye and Scott have not commented on the Italian event cancellations.