Gazprom Arena Cancels Ye’s 2 Russia Shows as Antisemitism Clashes With Kremlin War Narrative
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 29
Gazprom Arena Cancels Ye’s 2 Russia Shows as Antisemitism Clashes With Kremlin War Narrative
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 29
Summary
Two sold-out Ye concerts set for Oct. 10-11 in St. Petersburg were scrapped after Gazprom Arena said no contract had been signed with the promoter, despite earlier advertising the shows and brisk ticket sales.
80,000-seat Gazprom Arena had been due to host the biggest performances by an international star in Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but Ye’s antisemitic remarks and praise of Hitler cut against Moscow’s claim it is fighting Nazism.
Say Agency disputed the venue’s account and said it was still trying to salvage the Russia dates; Ye had not confirmed the cancellation.
VIP tickets had reached $1,900 and most seats were already gone, showing demand from Russians eager for a major foreign act even as officials, activists and pro-Kremlin figures split over whether he should be allowed to perform.
The reversal underscores Russia’s broader tension between projecting normal global cultural ties and enforcing an ultrapatriotic image during wartime isolation and sanctions.