American rapper Kanye West is facing mounting criticism over plans to perform in Slovakia this summer, just weeks after releasing a song that glorifies Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Organisers of the Rubicon Festival in Bratislava confirmed on Monday that West, who now goes by the name Ye, will headline the event on 20 July. They hailed his appearance as a “global sensation”, noting it would be his only confirmed live show in Europe this year.
West, a 24-time Grammy Award winner, has become increasingly notorious in recent years for his erratic conduct and inflammatory, antisemitic rhetoric.
The 48-year-old stirred widespread outrage in May when he released a track entitled “Heil Hitler” on 8 May, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in the Second World War.
Promoting the event on their website, festival organisers described him as a “hip-hop visionary, cultural icon and controversial genius.” However, the announcement has sparked fierce backlash, with more than 3,000 people signing a petition demanding the cancellation of his appearance.
Two organisations behind the petition accused West of “repeatedly and openly embracing symbols and ideology tied to one of the darkest periods in modern history.” They denounced his scheduled concert as “an insult to historical memory, a glorification of wartime violence, and a desecration of all victims of the Nazi regime.”
In the video for “Heil Hitler”, dozens of Black men dressed in animal skins and masks stand in formation, chanting the song’s title as West raps about being misunderstood and his custody battle with ex-wife Kim Kardashian. The track concludes with a recording of a speech by Hitler himself.
The rapper, who has publicly backed former US president Donald Trump, has also voiced support for fellow musician Sean Combs, who is currently facing trial on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
The Rubicon Festival, set to run from 18 to 20 July, will also feature performances from American rappers Ken Carson, Offset, and Sheck Wes.
