Misty Spears Asked For Free Ye Tickets After Denouncing July 4 Alamodome Concert With Rest of Council
San Antonio District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears is facing scrutiny after reportedly requesting complimentary tickets to Ye’s July 4 concert at the Alamodome, days before publicly denouncing the rapper’s history of antisemitic rhetoric.
The request became public after Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said Spears had accepted free tickets to the controversial show, which has already sparked backlash from Jewish community leaders, faith leaders and city officials. According to KSAT, Spears requested three complimentary passes for herself and two guests before later distancing herself from the event.
Spears’ office said the councilwoman was not aware of Ye’s documented antisemitic comments, swastika merchandise or controversial song referencing Hitler when the ticket request was made. Her office later said the tickets were declined and that no one from her office would attend the concert.
“Councilwoman Spears’ position has been clear and consistent: there is no place for antisemitism or hate speech in San Antonio,” her office said in a statement.
Mayor Jones Called Out The Contradiction
Spears was among the council members who joined a statement opposing cancellation of the Ye concert, arguing that canceling the show would raise censorship concerns. But the revelation that she had requested tickets before publicly condemning Ye’s rhetoric created a political contradiction at a time when San Antonio leaders are already divided over whether the city should host the rapper in a publicly owned venue.
Mayor Jones has been one of the most vocal opponents of the concert, saying the city should be more careful about who it platforms at the Alamodome, especially on Independence Day.
“There’s a difference between free speech and hate speech, and then how we are stewards of our city’s resources in either providing a platform for that or not,” Jones said.
Jones has also said she directed city staff to amend the concert agreement to prohibit Ye from performing his song “Heil Hitler” or selling swastika merchandise at the Alamodome.
“The fact that we even had to ask for those things is ludicrous,” Jones said. “But that’s where we’re at, and we move forward.”
Spears’ Israel Trip Adds To The Political Optics
The controversy comes as Spears is traveling in Israel, making the ticket request even more politically sensitive. Her office said she was unavailable for interviews but maintained that she condemns antisemitism and hate speech. Still, the situation has raised questions about whether city officials were fully aware of the controversy surrounding Ye before the concert became a public fight.
That history includes years of antisemitic statements, business fallout and public backlash. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has faced condemnation from Jewish organizations and civil rights groups over comments praising Nazis, attacking Jewish people and promoting swastika imagery.
Concert Still Moving Forward Despite Backlash
Despite calls to cancel the event, the July 4 concert remains scheduled at the Alamodome. A majority of City Council members signed a statement opposing cancellation, saying the city should not engage in censorship even while condemning Ye’s rhetoric.
The Jewish Federation of San Antonio has strongly criticized the decision to allow the concert to move forward. Craig Berkowitch, the organization’s CEO, said the city made the wrong choice.
“We believe the wrong choice was made,” Berkowitch said.
More than 50,000 people are expected to attend the concert, and city officials have pointed to the event’s economic impact. But for critics, the issue is not just about ticket sales. It is about whether San Antonio should lend a city-owned stage to an artist whose recent public record has become inseparable from hate speech.
