Kanye West has announced he will postpone his planned concert in France, shortly after reports that French authorities were considering blocking the performance over his past antisemitic remarks.
“After much thought and consideration, it is my sole decision to postpone my show in Marseille, France until further notice,” the rapper, legally known as Ye, wrote on X.
According to The Guardian, a source close to Laurent Nuñez told Agence France-Presse that the minister was “highly determined” to stop the 11 June concert at Marseille’s Vélodrome stadium and was exploring “all possibilities.”
The 48-year-old artist has faced sustained criticism over antisemitic remarks and expressions of admiration for Adolf Hitler.
Je refuse que Marseille soit une vitrine pour ceux qui promeuvent la haine et le nazisme décomplexé.
Kanye West n’est pas le bienvenu au Vélodrome, notre temple du vivre-ensemble et de tous les Marseillais.
— Benoît Payan (@BenoitPayan) March 4, 2026
In the United Kingdom, authorities have already blocked West from entering, leading to the cancellation of the Wireless Festival, where he was set to headline in July. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the decision to book him as “deeply concerning.”
However, not all European countries have taken the same stance. Bart van den Brink said there are currently no plans to prevent West from entering the Netherlands.
The French source also said Nuñez had discussed a potential ban with regional officials, including the mayor of Marseille. Benoît Payan had earlier opposed the concert, writing: “Kanye West is not welcome at the Vélodrome, our temple of living together and belonging to all Marseillais.”
The backlash follows a string of controversies.
In May 2025, West released a track titled Heil Hitler, months after promoting a swastika-themed T-shirt on his website. The song was later removed from major streaming platforms. He has since expressed regret, attributing his behaviour to bipolar disorder.
Before the Wireless Festival cancellation, West said he was willing to meet members of London’s Jewish community in an effort to make amends. “I know words aren’t enough I’ll have to show change through my actions,” he said.
After much thought and consideration, it is my sole decision
to postpone my show in Marseille, France until further notice.
— ye (@kanyewest) April 15, 2026
He had been scheduled to headline all three nights of the London festival, but the event was cancelled after his electronic travel authorisation was revoked. Several sponsors, including Pepsi, Rockstar Energy, and Diageo, withdrew support, increasing pressure on organisers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had also criticised the booking as “deeply concerning.”
Festival organisers said “multiple stakeholders” were consulted and “no concerns were highlighted at the time.” They added: “Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent.”
West later reiterated his intention to engage with the Jewish community in the UK, saying: “My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through music.”
He has not performed in the UK since Glastonbury Festival in 2015.
Earlier this year, he apologised in The Wall Street Journal, again linking his behaviour to bipolar-1 disorder. “I lost touch with reality,” he said. “I said and did things I deeply regret.”