Kanye West postpones Marseille concert as France considers blocking him from performing
TL;DR
Kanye West has postponed his concert in Marseille, France, amid reports that the French government is considering blocking him from performing due to his antisemitic remarks. The interior minister is exploring options to prevent the concert scheduled for June 11.
Key points
- Kanye West postpones concert in Marseille, France
- French interior minister seeks to block his performance
- Concert was scheduled for June 11 at Velodrome stadium
- Kanye has faced criticism for antisemitic remarks
- He was previously banned from entering the UK
Mentioned in this story
Kanye West has announced he will postpone an upcoming concert in France, just after reports emerged that France’s interior minister is seeking to block the US rapper from performing due to his antisemitic remarks.
“After much thought and consideration, it is my sole decision to postpone my show in Marseille, France until further notice,” the rapper, legally known as Ye, wrote on X.
A source close to the interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, told Agence France-Presse on Tuesday that he was “highly determined” to ban the 11 June concert at Marseille’s Velodrome stadium and was exploring “all possibilities”.
The 48-year-old rapper 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. The 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 Nuñez 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, Benoît 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's concert in Marseille being postponed?
Kanye West's concert is postponed due to the French interior minister seeking to block him from performing because of his antisemitic remarks.
What actions has France's interior minister taken regarding Kanye West?
France's interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, is highly determined to ban Kanye West's concert and is exploring all possibilities to prevent it.
Has Kanye West faced similar bans in other countries?
Yes, Kanye West has been banned from entering the UK due to his controversial remarks, leading to the cancellation of a festival where he was set to perform.
