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.
Russia is open to listening to new proposals on how to reach a settlement on the Ukraine conflict, a senior Russia...
Iran has condemned new U.S. sanctions as “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity”, accusing Washington of pursuin...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of August, covering the latest developments. ...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments.
Russian ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv has killed at least sixteen people and injured more than forty others, Ukrainian officials said, with fires reported across the city and Poland activating defensive air operations.
American actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in TV shows such as Nashville and Heroes, has died at the age of 36, ABC News reported on Sunday, citing her representative.
Four artworks by 15th-century painter Antonello da Messina have been stolen overnight from the Museo Regionale di Messina, Italy's culture minister said on Sunday, expressing confidence in the police inquiry.
Cristiano Ronaldo has given one of his clearest indications yet that his playing career is nearing its end, saying the 2026-27 season will “probably” be his last in professional football.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has changed Eurovision Song Contest rules to allow a winning country to be blocked from hosting if security risks, armed conflict or geopolitical tensions make it unsafe to stage the event.
Each summer, Gabala becomes a gathering point for artists, musicians and audiences from across Azerbaijan and beyond.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment