Hip-Hop mogul Ye, formerly Kanye West, will not be headed to Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia, after all this October — according to new reports.
The “Stronger” and “Good Life” hitmaker was scheduled to perform Oct. 10 and 11 at the Gazprom Arena. The venue now says no agreement exists for either show.
“Gazprom Arena was not and is not the organizer of this event,” the stadium said. “This was handled by the Moscow-based concert agency Say Agency.”
The venue also said it never signed a rental agreement with the promoter. “Accordingly, the concert cannot take place at our venue,” it said.
The reversal follows Gazprom Arena’s earlier promotion of Ye. The stadium had called him “the most influential musical artist of our time.”
Say Agency disputed the venue’s account. The Moscow-based promoter said it scheduled the concerts using an official letter approved by Gazprom Arena.
The agency also said it learned about the cancellation through social media. The concerts had been promoted as sold out, leaving ticket holders questioning what happens next.
“You were the first to announce the event and sell tickets on your official website,” one fan wrote.
Another criticized the venue after fans traveled across Russia and booked hotels for the shows.
Ye’s planned appearance would have carried unusual significance. He would have been the first major Western artist to perform in Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
His return to the stage has also unfolded amid renewed scrutiny of his antisemitism. Ye released the track “Heil Hitler” and faced backlash over swastika merchandise sold through Yeezy.
Say Agency acknowledged that history when announcing the St. Petersburg concerts.
“Not everything Kanye West said should be forgotten,” the agency wrote. “It’s easy to judge.”
“It’s more difficult to listen to a person who has been changing the industry for decades,” it added.
Ye apologized in January through an advertisement in The Wall Street Journal. He cited poor judgment during a period involving bipolar disorder.
“I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions,” he wrote. “I am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change.”
He added, “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
The apology has not stopped the fallout. Ye has seen concerts canceled across Europe, including shows in Poland, Italy and France.
A London festival also collapsed after British authorities denied Ye permission to enter the country. The St. Petersburg cancellation adds another chapter to his increasingly turbulent global career.
