Latest news with #RubiconFestival
Metro
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Music festival cancelled after huge outcry over Kanye West headlining
Rubicon Festival in Bratislava, Slovakia, has been cancelled after outcry that Kanye West was set to perform. The American rapper known as Ye, 48, has been a controversial figure for some time. From branding himself a 'Nazi' and sharing antisemitic content on Twitter to recently being accused of sex trafficking and assault, there are a lot of reasons the singer is problematic. In May, the singer released a song titled Heil Hitler which ends with a sample from a speech by Adolf Hitler in 1935 in the original German. Hitler says in German in the speech: 'Stand up for me like I have stood up for you.' The song was banned in Germany under hate speech laws and was removed from most major music platforms. Since the release of the song, artists have been dropping out of Rubicon Festival, with fans signing a petition against the gig, calling Ye as a headliner 'an insult to historic memory, a glorification of wartime violence and debasement of all victims of the Nazi regime.' Following extreme controversy, the festival has now been cancelled. The Slovakian festival announced on July 10, that the entire festival was cancelled due to 'unforseen circumstances' and 'external pressure'. The festival announced on social media: 'It is with regret that we announce: Rubicon Festival will not take place this year. 'This was not an easy decision. Due to media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and partners, we were unable to deliver the festival at the standard of quality you deserve. 'We are truly grateful for your support and trust. For those who have purchased tickets, please be patient – all refund information will be sent via email within 14 days. 'This is not the end of Rubicon. We are not giving up. We're already working to come back stronger.' The hip-hop gathering in Bratislava was due to take place across the weekend of July 18-20, with several performers and partners withdrawing because of the controversial rapper's involvement. Kanye was set to perform on Sunday July 20, with the Sunday lineup also including Malik Montana, and Kontrafakt. Other headliners across the weekend included Ken Carson, Offset, and Sheck Wes. Earlier this month, it was announced that the rapper was banned from Australia, where his wife Bianca Censori is from. The artist had a 'lower-level' visa which has now been revoked because of the release of his song in May. The country's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told ABC: 'He's been coming to Australia for a long time. 'He's got family here and he's made a lot of offensive comments that my officials looked at again. More Trending 'Once he released the Heil Hitler song, he no longer has a valid visa in Australia. 'It wasn't a visa for the purpose of concerts. It was a lower-level and the officials still looked at the law and said, you're going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism, we don't need that in Australia.' It is not yet clear if this ban is permanent, as visas are assessed as and when the application is submitted. Metro has reached out to Kanye West's representatives for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Justin Bieber's releases surprise 'dark and vulnerable' seventh album MORE: I wasn't a Billie Eilish fan until her London gig completely changed my mind MORE: Judge eviscerates singer suing Grammy winners for copying song 'played 670 times'
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Kanye West banned from performing at major European venues after previous Australian visa rejection
Kanye West is facing widespread bans from performing at major venues across Europe, with industry insiders stating he has been told to 'stay away' from countries including Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Italy, Scandinavia and Australia. This comes amid ongoing visa issues and venue boycotts linked to the rapper's repeated controversial statements and public support for Fascist rhetoric. 'He's getting his team to phone around desperately asking for gigs,' a source told Financial Express. 'No one will touch him with a barge pole. Wembley and the London Stadium both said, 'no chance, we don't need the protests,' and that was before the Heil Hitler single came out.' The track, which ended with an audio sample from a 1935 Adolf Hitler speech, was banned in Germany for violating hate speech laws and removed from major streaming platforms. Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated, 'But after the Heil Hitler song, he no longer has a valid visa. I think what's not sustainable is to import hatred.' While West once headlined stadiums of 80,000, he is now scheduled to perform at the 26,000-capacity Rubicon Festival in Slovakia on 20 July. Reports claim he is requesting $7 million per appearance, with few takers, as his estimated net worth has reportedly dropped from $2 billion to around $400 million.
Asharq Al-Awsat
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Slovakia Festival Hosting Kanye West Cancelled after 'Heil Hitler' Furore
The Slovakia festival due to welcome Kanye West next week has called off the event following the uproar over the US rapper's May release of a song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Before the July 20 gig was cancelled, Bratislava's Rubicon hip hop festival was set to be West's only confirmed live performance in Europe this year. Though he has won 24 Grammy Awards over the course of his career, the erratic rapper has become notorious in recent years for his increasingly antisemitic and hate-filled rants. West, who has legally changed his name to the shorthand "Ye", released the song "Heil Hitler" on May 8, the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. In the wake of the announcement of West's appearance at Rubicon, thousands of people signed a petition against the gig. The rapper -- a vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump -- is "repeatedly and openly adhering to symbols and ideology connected with the darkest period of modern global history", two groups behind the petition said. In a statement on Instagram late on Wednesday, the festival's organizers said the decision to cancel the event was "due to media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and partners". "This was not an easy decision," the organizers said, without drawing a direct line between the rapper's planned appearance and the cancellations. Contacted on Thursday by AFP, the Rubicon festival did not offer further explanations. Styling itself as the central European country's premier hip hop hang-out, the Rubicon festival was set to run from July 18 to 20. US rappers Offset and Sheck Wes were set to share top billing with West. Australia cancelled West's visa on July 2 over "Heil Hitler", in which West raps about his custody battle with ex-wife Kim Kardashian before the song ends with an extract of a speech by the Nazi dictator. West's wife, Bianca Censori, is Australian.
Malay Mail
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Slovakia says ‘no' to Kanye after uproar over Nazi-themed song
BRATISLAVA, July 11 — The Slovakia festival due to welcome Kanye West next week has called off the event following the uproar over the US rapper's May release of a song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Before the July 20 gig was cancelled, Bratislava's Rubicon hip hop festival was set to be West's only confirmed live performance in Europe this year. Though he has won 24 Grammy Awards over the course of his career, the erratic rapper has become notorious in recent years for his increasingly antisemitic and hate-filled rants. West, who has legally changed his name to the shorthand 'Ye', released the song Heil Hitler on May 8, the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. In the wake of the announcement of West's appearance at Rubicon, thousands of people signed a petition against the gig. The rapper — a vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump — is 'repeatedly and openly adhering to symbols and ideology connected with the darkest period of modern global history', two groups behind the petition said. In a statement on Instagram late on Wednesday, the festival's organisers said the decision to cancel the event was 'due to media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and partners'. 'This was not an easy decision,' the organisers said, without drawing a direct line between the rapper's planned appearance and the cancellations. Contacted on Thursday by AFP, the Rubicon festival did not offer further explanations. Styling itself as the central European country's premier hip hop hang-out, the Rubicon festival was set to run from July 18 to 20. US rappers Offset and Sheck Wes were set to share top billing with West. Australia cancelled West's visa on July 2 over Heil Hitler, in which West raps about his custody battle with ex-wife Kim Kardashian before the song ends with an extract of a speech by the Nazi dictator. West's wife, Bianca Censori, is Australian. — AFP
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Slovakia festival hosting Kanye West cancelled after 'Heil Hitler' furore
The Slovakia festival due to welcome Kanye West next week has called off the event following the uproar over the US rapper's May release of a song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Before the July 20 gig was cancelled, Bratislava's Rubicon hip hop festival was set to be West's only confirmed live performance in Europe this year. Though he has won 24 Grammy Awards over the course of his career, the erratic rapper has become notorious in recent years for his increasingly antisemitic and hate-filled rants. West, who has legally changed his name to the shorthand "Ye", released the song "Heil Hitler" on May 8, the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. In the wake of the announcement of West's appearance at Rubicon, thousands of people signed a petition against the gig. The rapper -- a vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump -- is "repeatedly and openly adhering to symbols and ideology connected with the darkest period of modern global history", two groups behind the petition said. In a statement on Instagram late on Wednesday, the festival's organisers said the decision to cancel the event was "due to media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and partners". "This was not an easy decision," the organisers said, without drawing a direct line between the rapper's planned appearance and the cancellations. Contacted on Thursday by AFP, the Rubicon festival did not offer further explanations. Styling itself as the central European country's premier hip hop hang-out, the Rubicon festival was set to run from July 18 to 20. US rappers Offset and Sheck Wes were set to share top billing with West. Australia cancelled West's visa on July 2 over "Heil Hitler", in which West raps about his custody battle with ex-wife Kim Kardashian before the song ends with an extract of a speech by the Nazi dictator. West's wife, Bianca Censori, is Australian.
