Poland Cancels Kanye West Concert Over Antisemitic Backlash

A planned concert by U.S. rapper Kanye West in Poland has been canceled, marking another setback for his European tour amid ongoing backlash over his past antisemitic remarks and praise for Nazism. The event, scheduled for June 19, 2026, at Slaski Stadium in the western city of Chorzow, was scrapped due to formal and legal reasons, according to stadium director Adam Strzyzewski.

Strzyzewski announced the decision in a statement on Friday, stating, "We would like to inform you that the Ye Kanye West concert planned for 19 June 2026 at the Slaski stadium will not take place due to formal and legal reasons." The stadium, which holds over 54,000 people following renovations in 2017, had been set to host the performance, but Polish authorities signaled opposition in advance. Culture Minister Marta Cienkowska expressed strong reservations on Thursday, writing on social media, "In a country scarred by the history of the Holocaust, we cannot pretend that this is just entertainment. Artistic freedom does not mean giving a free pass to everything. Culture cannot be a space for those who exploit it to spread hatred."

Poland's stance reflects the nation's deep historical wounds from World...