The mayor of San Antonio has expressed support for canceling a Fourth of July concert in the city by Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. This request follows several cancellations of his European shows due to protests related to his antisemitic behavior.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones wrote on social media that San Antonio should not host an artist with a history of hate speech and antisemitic remarks, especially in a city-funded venue like the Alamodome. She emphasized the importance of opposing antisemitism to work towards a more unified nation.
A representative for Ye declined to comment.
Ye is on tour promoting his latest album, “Bully.” His performance scheduled at the Alamodome, which can accommodate over 70,000 fans, has faced scrutiny due to his past actions. These include a controversial song release and merchandise containing offensive symbols.
In 2022, Ye made a controversial statement on social media, which was followed by an apology in 2023. However, he retracted this apology in 2025. More recently, in January, he issued another public apology in The Wall Street Journal, attributing his actions to untreated bipolar disorder. Despite this, many European officials found the apology lacking.
Italy recently canceled a July concert due to security concerns and input from Jewish leaders. The British government barred Ye’s entry for concerts due to his antisemitic history. Concerts in Poland and a Swiss soccer club were also canceled, and Ye himself called off a show in Marseille after France’s interior ministry considered banning it.
Ye did manage to perform for nearly 40,000 fans in the Netherlands, where attendees expressed interest in his music despite his controversial views. In April, he held two sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles.
Future concerts are planned in Spain, Portugal, Albania, and Chicago. Upcoming shows are also set for June 26 and 29 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. Concerns have been raised by Florida Senator Rick Scott, who wrote to the Tampa Sports Authority, questioning the use of taxpayer-supported venues for an artist associated with “dangerous, hateful rhetoric.”
Derrick Bryson Taylor is a reporter for The New York Times covering breaking news in culture and the arts.
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