Kanye West faces possible ban from France ahead of concert in Marseille
TL;DR
France's interior minister is seeking to ban Kanye West from performing in Marseille on June 11 due to his antisemitic remarks. The minister is exploring all options to prevent the concert at Velodrome stadium.
Key points
- France's interior minister seeks to block Kanye West's concert
- Ban is due to his antisemitic remarks
- Concert is scheduled for June 11 in Marseille
- UK has already banned him from entering the country
- No plans to bar him from the Netherlands yet
France’s interior minister is seeking to block the US rapper formerly known as Kanye West from performing in the southern city of Marseille in June due to his antisemitic remarks, a source close to the minister said Tuesday.
The interior minister, Laurent Nunez, is “highly determined” to ban the 11 June concert at Marseille’s Velodrome stadium and is exploring “all possibilities”, the source told Agence France-Presse.
The 48-year-old rapper, legally known as Ye, has been heavily criticised for making antisemitic remarks and voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler.
Britain has blocked the US rapper from entering the country due to his outbursts, prompting organisers of Wireless festival, which he was set to headline in July, to cancel the whole event. UK prime minister Keir Starmer had called the booking of West “deeply concerning”.
But the Dutch asylum and migration minister, Bart van den Brink, said last week there were no plans as yet to bar the rapper from the Netherlands.
The French source said Nunez had discussed the possible concert ban with the regional prefect and the mayor of Marseille during his visit to the city last week.
Last month, Benoit Payan, the leftwing mayor, said he opposed the controversial performer’s visit, saying he refused “to allow Marseille to be a showcase for those who promote hatred and unabashed Nazism”.
“Kanye West is not welcome at the Vélodrome, our temple of living together and belonging to all Marseillais,” Payan wrote on X.
In May 2025, the rapper released a song called Heil Hitler, months after advertising a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.
The song was banned by major streaming platforms. West subsequently expressed regret for his conduct, blaming it on his bipolar disorder.
Before his Wireless festival performances were cancelled, West said he would be willing to meet with London’s Jewish community to attempt to make amends.
“I know words aren’t enough – I’ll have to show change through my actions,” he said.
AFP contributed to this report
Q&A
Why is Kanye West facing a ban from performing in France?
Kanye West is facing a ban due to his antisemitic remarks, which have drawn significant criticism.
What date is Kanye West's concert in Marseille scheduled for?
Kanye West's concert in Marseille is scheduled for June 11.
Has Kanye West been banned from performing in other countries?
Yes, he has been banned from entering the UK, which led to the cancellation of the Wireless festival.
