Organiser Say Agency announced the cancellation of two scheduled performances by the artist formerly known as Kanye West at Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on 10 and 11 October through a Telegram post on Thursday. The Moscow-based agency expressed regret over the decision and stated that ticket refunds would become available starting 12 October, with additional details on refund procedures to be provided later.
The cancellation follows an extended period of confusion regarding the shows’ status. While Gazprom Arena initially promoted the concerts on social media, the venue subsequently stated in August that it had not signed an agreement with concert promoters to host the events on its premises. The arena distanced itself from the booking and acknowledged receiving complaints about the scheduled performances.
The planned shows had faced significant opposition from Russian officials. The country’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova previously deemed the concerts unacceptable, citing concerns about the artist’s past statements. A Russian politician called for an investigation into the musician’s prior remarks and suggested the performances should be cancelled without a public declaration of support for Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
The artist’s controversial history includes selling merchandise featuring Nazi imagery and releasing music with inflammatory content last year. He subsequently published an apology in the Wall Street Journal in January, attributed his earlier behavior to a manic episode related to bipolar disorder, and stated support for Jewish people.
Despite ongoing controversy, the artist has successfully performed in multiple countries including Turkey, the Netherlands, Georgia, Albania, Portugal, and Kazakhstan, with additional shows scheduled for the US and Indonesia. His recent performances come in support of his 12th studio album released in March.
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