Ye And Travis Scott Italy Concerts Canceled Over Security Concerns, Officials Cite Crowd Safety And Protest Concerns
Italian authorities have canceled planned summer performances by Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and Travis Scott, citing security concerns and the possibility of public demonstrations.
Officials in Reggio Emilia, a city in northern Italy, ordered the cancellation of two major concerts scheduled for July 17 and July 18 at the 103,000 capacity RCF Arena. Travis Scott was expected to perform at the Pulse of Gaia Festival on July 17, while Ye was scheduled to take the stage the following night.
According to Reuters, local prefect Salvatore Angieri made the decision after authorities reviewed concerns tied to public order, crowd safety and the large number of fans expected to arrive in the city over a 24 hour period.
Public Safety And Protest Concerns Drove The Decision
The cancellation followed appeals from consumer advocacy group CODACONS and members of the Jewish community in Modena and Reggio Emilia. Those groups raised concerns about Ye’s scheduled appearance, citing his history of antisemitic remarks and the use of Nazi imagery in his work.
Ye has faced growing opposition across Europe as he attempts to return to international touring. Earlier this year, Britain denied him entry into the country, while planned performances in France, Poland and Switzerland were also scrapped amid public backlash and political pressure.
Officials also reportedly considered concerns tied to Travis Scott’s appearance. The Houston rapper has remained under scrutiny since the 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy, where 10 people died and hundreds were injured during a crowd surge.
Back To Back Stadium Sized Shows Raised Security Questions
Authorities said the combination of two large scale hip hop events on consecutive nights, along with the possibility of demonstrations, created an unacceptable security risk.
The cancellation is notable because the shows were expected to be among the highest profile hip hop events in Europe this summer. The Pulse of Gaia Festival, formerly known as Hellwatt Festival, had been promoted as a major destination event with internationally known artists.
Neither Ye, Scott nor festival organizers immediately commented on the decision.
Despite the latest cancellation, Ye is still expected to perform in Istanbul this weekend and has additional European dates scheduled in countries that have not restricted his appearances.
For now, one of the summer’s biggest planned hip hop weekends in Italy is off the calendar.
