Kanye West announced he is postponing his scheduled June 11 concert in Marseille indefinitely, following mounting pressure from French authorities who threatened to ban him from entering the country over his history of antisemitic statements.
The decision comes after French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez signaled his determination to prevent the rapper's performance in France's second-largest city. Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan had already declared in March that West was unwelcome in his city.
I refuse to let Marseille be a platform for hatred and shameless Nazism
Benoît Payan, Mayor of Marseille — France 24
West, who now goes by Ye, has faced widespread condemnation for a series of antisemitic actions and statements over recent years. In 2024, he released a song titled "Heil Hitler" and sold merchandise featuring swastikas. He has also worn clothing with the racist slogan "White Lives Matter" and promoted merchandise from the Nazi-affiliated metal band Burzum.
After much consideration, I have decided to postpone my concert in Marseille, France until further notice
Kanye West — X (formerly Twitter)
The rapper has attributed his controversial behavior to mental health struggles, specifically citing a bipolar disorder diagnosis and what he described as brain damage. In early 2026, he issued public apologies and took out a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal acknowledging that a "four-month manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior" in early 2025 had "destroyed his life."
France joins the United Kingdom in effectively barring West from performing. British authorities denied him entry earlier this month, forcing the cancellation of planned London shows in July. West subsequently offered to engage with the British Jewish community in dialogue.
The situation highlights the complex balance European governments face between free expression and preventing platforms for hate speech. While West has apologized and resumed touring in the United States, his European comeback remains fraught with political and legal obstacles.
West's scheduled performances in the Netherlands remain intact for now. He is set to perform twice at Arnhem's Gelredome on June 6 and 8, despite calls from several Dutch political parties for an entry ban. Dutch authorities have stated that West does not currently pose a threat to public order or national security, though the situation remains under review.