Officials stopped a planned June concert, citing legal grounds tied to the artist’s extreme statements. The move raised debate over limits of artistic freedom.
In Poland, a planned concert on June 19 by American rapper Kanye West, who now performs under the stage name Ye, was canceled due to his antisemitic and Nazi views.
According to statements from government officials and organizers, the cancellation was explained by formal-legal reasons on the part of the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów.
Official positions on the decision
“We would like to inform you that the concert of Ye (Kanye West) scheduled for June 19, 2026 at the Silesian Stadium will not take place for formal-legal reasons”
– Adam Strzyszewski
The Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland, Marta Cenkowska, noted that organizing a performance by such an artist in Poland is unacceptable.
“This concerns an artist who publicly voiced antisemitic statements, relativized crimes, and earned money selling T-shirts with a swastika. This is not just a controversy”
– Marta Cenkowska
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maciej Wevur, emphasized that the Polish diplomatic service supports the Ministry of Culture’s position on the ban on the performance. He added that organizing this event in Poland would damage the country’s good name, and freedom of creativity does not mean permission to spread xenophobia and hate speech.
“The Polish diplomatic service supports the position of the Ministry of Culture on the ban on the performance. He stressed that organizing this event in Poland would harm the country’s good name, and freedom of creativity does not mean permission to spread xenophobia and hate speech.”
– Maciej Wevur
Kanye West is one of the world’s most famous rappers. In recent years he has voiced antisemitic views and supported Nazi ideology, which explains the decision of the Polish organizers and authorities.
This decision underscores the country’s stance on preventing expressions of hatred and their use at public events, as freedom of creativity cannot serve as a justification for discrimination or hate speech.