U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
The concert, held at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium, was Ye's first appearance in Europe since 2014 and his first performance in Türkiye. According to Anadolu Agency, fans travelled from across Europe and the Middle East to attend the two-hour show.
Audience members came from countries including Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia and Poland, Anadolu reported.
The performance comes after a turbulent period for the 48-year-old artist, whose controversial statements and actions have led to widespread criticism and a series of cancelled appearances.
Ye has faced a strong backlash in recent years over antisemitic comments, including remarks praising Adolf Hitler, as well as the use of Nazi imagery in some of his content.
Criticism intensified following the release of "Heil Hitler", a song promoting Nazism, which prompted renewed condemnation from politicians, campaign groups and members of the public.
Despite the controversy, thousands of fans packed the stadium in Istanbul, highlighting the artist's continued ability to draw large audiences.
Several planned appearances in Europe were cancelled or postponed this year.
In April, British authorities denied Ye entry to the country, saying his presence would not be conducive to the public good. The decision led to the cancellation of a planned appearance at London's Wireless Festival.
Later the same month, a concert in Marseille was postponed after reports that French authorities had sought to prevent the event from going ahead. A planned performance in Poland was also cancelled.
The cancellations followed growing pressure on event organisers and governments over whether the rapper should be allowed to perform following his repeated antisemitic statements.
In January, Ye sought to distance himself from his previous comments by taking out a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal.
In the advertisement, he renounced his past admiration for Hitler and apologised for his behaviour. He said his actions had been influenced by an undiagnosed brain injury and untreated bipolar disorder.
Whether the apology will help repair his reputation remains unclear, but his appearance in Istanbul suggests that significant audiences remain willing to attend his performances despite the controversies that continue to surround him.
Ye is scheduled to perform in the Netherlands on 6 and 8 June as part of his ongoing return to the European stage.
Georgia and Armenia have resumed talks on their 225-kilometre border after years of limited progress, with disputes over historical boundaries, far...
China has extended the suspension of its additional 24 per cent tariff on U.S. goods for another two months, while keeping a 10 per cent levy in pl...
Russia and Ukraine are set to return to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for a fourth round of U.S.-brokered peace talks, with European participation, security...
The gunman who allegedly killed six people in Poland’s unprecedented mass shooting in central Kraków on Saturday has died in hospital, police said early Monday. The attacker had demonstrated advanced military-style marksmanship skills, according to a spokesperson for the shooting club he attended.
Poland has declared two days of national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków's historic main square. Investigators are examining possible far-right influences and the discovery of three bodies at the suspect's home.
Monday marks the second of two days of national mourning in Poland as police bolstered security after six people were killed in a mass shooting in Kraków.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-aligned group towards Riyadh on Sunday (8 November), after loud booms were heard in the Saudi capital. The Aramco building was damaged by falling debris.
Azerbaijan is marking the sixth anniversary of Victory Day on Sunday, 8 November, with President Ilham Aliyev visiting the Victory Monument in Khankendi, laying a wreath and paying tribute to servicemen killed during the 44-day Second Garabagh War in 2020.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced that its 2027 Costume Institute exhibition and Met Gala will explore how designers transform everyday clothing and ordinary materials into works of art.
Australia has returned two ancient stone statue heads to China, more than 30 years after they were taken from imperial tombs in central China.
Uzbekistan is launching a new fashion academy in Tashkent to help local clothing manufacturers build their own brands, sharpen design skills and compete in international markets.
Baku is set to host the second “Fly to Baku” Art Weekend from 30 October to 1 November, bringing together Azerbaijani and international artists to explore the Caucasus’ wildlife and cultural heritage, and the need to protect nature.
A rare 67-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton known as “Jodi” has sold for $47.3 million at Sotheby’s in New York, smashing its pre-sale estimate and becoming the second-most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment