Kanye West, the controversial rapper and fashion mogul, has faced backlash from Italian war veterans for his past remarks about Adolf Hitler and Nazism. His scheduled concert at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia, Italy, on October 20, 2023, has been postponed due to weather and transport issues, as well as security concerns.
West, who recently changed his legal name to Ye, has been staying in Italy for several months, working on his new album with singer Ty Dolla $ign. He was expected to perform his new music at the RCF Arena, which can accommodate up to 100,000 people.
However, his plans were met with resistance from the National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI), a group of former resistance fighters who fought against fascism and Nazism during World War II.
The ANPI members expressed their outrage over West’s comments in a 2022 interview, where he said he “saw good things about Hitler” and that he “loved Nazis”. They also accused him of making anti-Semitic remarks in the past and paying settlements to former employees who claimed he discriminated against them based on their religion.
“I hope this concert does not go ahead,” said Ermete Fiaccadori, the ANPI regional president of Reggio Emilia. “This artist has a large following of youngsters, but his message is disquieting. I’m speechless that he cannot understand what he is saying, broadcasting a gross misunderstanding of what Adolf Hitler was in the course of history. I am all for artistic liberty but what Kanye West says and does leave me shocked. As an organization, we condemn this concert totally and we are very concerned about what message it conveys.”
He added, “And before anyone says it, this isn’t censorship because we are all in favor of liberty, but we are talking about a concert that is totally out of order. Reggio has a long history of fighting against the ideas of Adolf Hitler and many lost their lives as a result.”
A spokesperson for the Reggio Emilia prefecture told the Daily Mail that the concert was postponed due to a train strike and heavy rain forecast for the same day. They said that the organizers were given an alternative date of October 27 and that they were waiting for their confirmation. They also said that the security measures for the event would be tight to ensure the safety of all.
West has not commented on the postponement or the protests. He has previously defended his controversial statements, saying that he was misunderstood and that he was trying to challenge people’s thinking. He has also faced criticism for his support of former US President Donald Trump and his erratic behavior.
West’s fans have expressed mixed reactions to the news of the postponement. Some have expressed disappointment and frustration, while others have supported his right to express his opinions. Some have also questioned whether the concert will actually happen or if it is just a publicity stunt.
West’s new album with Ty Dolla $ign is rumored to be released on October 20, 2023, the same day as the original concert date. However, West is known for delaying and changing his album releases, so fans are not sure what to expect. The album is said to be a collaboration between West’s Yeezy brand and Ty Dolla $ign’s Dolla Sign World label.
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