Another stop on Kanye West’s attempted live comeback has fallen over, with the rapper’s scheduled concert in Poland officially cancelled.
West, also known as Ye, had been due to perform at Silesian Stadium in Chorzów on June 19, marking his first show in the country in 15 years. But the venue has now confirmed the gig “will not take place due to formal and legal reasons,” following mounting pressure from government officials and widespread backlash.
Poland’s culture minister, Marta Cienkowska, had publicly opposed the booking ahead of the cancellation, calling the planned performance “unacceptable.” In a country deeply affected by the history of the Holocaust, she argued that hosting West could not be treated as “just entertainment.”
The decision comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the artist, including a series of antisemitic, racist and pro-Nazi comments in recent years. It also follows a string of disrupted European dates, with a UK appearance scrapped after West was denied entry to the country, and a planned show in France postponed indefinitely.
Poland has strict laws around the promotion of Nazi symbols and ideology, making the situation particularly sensitive. Publicly promoting Nazism in the country is a criminal offence, carrying potential prison time.
Meanwhile, West also remains banned from Australia indefinitely over his Nazi-praising track, ‘Heil Hitler’.
It comes after Ye issued an apology for his past antisemitic remarks, taking out a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal ahead of the release of his new album, Bully.
At this stage, there’s no word on whether the cancelled Polish show will be rescheduled – but given the broader pattern across Europe, West’s return to the live stage continues to face significant hurdles.
Further Reading
Ye (Kanye West) Issues Apology For Antisemitic Remarks In Full-Page Wall Street Journal Ad
Kanye West Banned From Australia Indefinitely Over Nazi-Praising Track ‘Heil Hitler’
