JAKARTA - Kanye West is again facing the threat of a concert cancellation. His schedule at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, on July 4 was questioned after Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones refused the presence of the rapper who now goes by the name Ye.
Launching a report by The Mirror, quoted Wednesday, June 24, the rejection came due to Kanye West's track record of antisemitic comments on social media. Although West has made an open apology, the controversy has not subsided.
Through X, Gina said she supported the cancellation of the concert. He assessed that San Antonio, known as Military City USA, should not provide city facilities for figures with a history of hate speech and anti-Semitic comments.
The statement sparked a variety of reactions. Some netizens alluded to the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects freedom of speech. There are also those who consider that the concert could bring in revenue for the city. However, not a few have supported the mayor's attitude.
The pressure in Texas came after Ye's concert in Italy was also canceled. He was previously scheduled to be the main performer at the Pulse of Gaia Festival at the RCF Arena, Reggio Emilia, on July 18.
City prefect Salvatore Angieri canceled the event after concerns were raised by the local Jewish community regarding West's previous comments. Travis Scott's concert at the Hellwatt Festival on July 17 was also canceled because the two events were held close together.
The Reggio Emilia authorities stated that the decision was taken to maintain public order and security. The RCF Arena has a capacity of around 103,000 spectators. The local government is also considering the risk of counter-demonstrations.
Earlier this year, West's concert in Marseille, France, was also canceled after he was denied entry into the UK. The rejection also canceled his plans to appear as the main star of the Wireless Festival in London.
West previously drew criticism after releasing a song titled Heil Hitler in 2025 and selling a T-shirt featuring a swastika on his website. He has also been criticized for anti-Semitic posts and his statement that slavery was "a choice".
In January, West bought a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal to deliver an apology titled To Those I've Hurt. He wrote that he was not a Nazi or an anti-Semite and expressed his love for Jews.
West also linked his behavior to bipolar disorder, which he said triggered a four-month-long episode of mania, accompanied by psychotic, paranoid, and impulsive behavior.
The controversy over the Texas concert surfaced because the event was planned to take place in a city-funded facility and coincided with the July 4th celebrations in the United States.
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