The mayor of San Antonio expressed her support for canceling a Fourth of July concert by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West. Her statement comes after several of Ye’s performances in Europe were canceled due to protests over his antisemitic behavior.
Gina Ortiz Jones, the mayor, stated that San Antonio should not host individuals with a record of hate speech and antisemitic remarks at a city-funded venue like the Alamodome. She emphasized that standing against antisemitism is crucial for working towards a more perfect union.
Ye’s representative declined to comment. His concert at the Alamodome is part of a tour promoting his new album, Bully. Over the years, Ye has faced backlash for his antisemitic actions, including releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler” and selling merchandise with swastikas. In 2022, Ye wrote on social media, “I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.” Although he apologized for his actions in 2023, he retracted that apology in 2025. In January, he took out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal, again expressing regret for his behavior, attributing it to untreated bipolar disorder. However, many European officials deemed his latest apology insufficient.
Italian authorities canceled Ye’s July concert over security concerns and objections from Jewish leaders. In April, Ye was barred from the UK due to his antisemitic history. Concerts planned in Poland and a Swiss soccer club were canceled in June, and a show in Marseille, France was called off after the interior ministry contemplated banning the event.
Ye performed for nearly 40,000 fans in the Netherlands, where attendees seemed more interested in his music than his past actions. As one concertgoer told The New York Times: “I’m here for the music, not for his point of view.” In April, Ye held two sold-out concerts at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles.
Ye has upcoming performances this summer in Spain, Portugal, and Albania, as well as in Chicago in September. He is also scheduled for shows on June 26 and 29 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The state’s senior senator, Rick Scott, advised officials to reconsider allowing Ye to perform.
In his open letter to the Tampa Sports Authority board, Scott expressed concerns about a taxpayer-supported venue hosting Ye, citing his “dangerous, hateful rhetoric.” He urged the board to reassess this decision, given taxpayer dollars are involved.
Derrick Bryson Taylor reports on breaking news in culture and the arts for The New York Times.