Ye’s planned return to Russia appears to have hit a major roadblock, with Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg saying the rapper’s scheduled October concerts cannot take place at the venue.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, had been scheduled to perform at the stadium on October 10 and 11. The arena has now said there is no agreement in place for either show.
“Gazprom Arena was not and is not the organizer of this event,” the stadium said, adding that the concerts were being handled by 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,” the arena said.
The statement represents a sharp reversal after Gazprom Arena had previously promoted Ye and described him as “the most influential musical artist of our time.”
Say Agency, however, disputes the venue’s version of events. The promoter said it had scheduled the concerts using an official letter approved by Gazprom Arena.
The agency also said it learned about the cancellation through social media.
That has left ticket holders with questions about what happens next. The concerts had been promoted as sold out, with some fans reportedly making travel and hotel arrangements for the St. Petersburg shows.
Ye’s planned Russian performances had already attracted significant attention because of their timing. His appearance would have been notable as a major Western artist performing in Russia following the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The concerts were also announced amid continued scrutiny surrounding Ye’s public controversies, including his history of antisemitic remarks and the release of the track “Heil Hitler.” His Yeezy brand also faced backlash over swastika merchandise.
Say Agency acknowledged that controversy when promoting the concerts, arguing that Ye’s past statements should not necessarily define his entire career.
Ye apologized in January in an advertisement published in The Wall Street Journal, expressing regret over his actions and saying he was committed to accountability, treatment and meaningful change.
Despite that apology, his international touring plans have faced setbacks. Concerts have been canceled in several European countries, while a planned London festival appearance also collapsed after British authorities denied him permission to enter the country.
Now, the St. Petersburg shows face another obstacle — and this time, the dispute is over whether the venue ever agreed to host them in the first place.
