Kanye West's upcoming concert in Italy has been cancelled due to "public order and safety issues", with residents raising fears that his appearance could spark a wave of antisemitism in the city. The 48-year-old rapper, who now goes by the name Ye as of 2021, was supposed to be headlining at the Pulse of Gaia Festival at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia on July 18. However, the city prefect Salvatore Angieri has since cancelled the event after the Jewish community voiced "concerns" over the musician's previous antisemitic comments.

This is not the first time the rapper's concerts have been cancelled. He was banned from entering the UK last month, which led to his Wireless Festival set being shelved. It comes after another concert, set for July 17, when rapper Travis Scott was scheduled to perform at the Hellwatt Festival, which was also cancelled because the two gigs were scheduled on consecutive days.

Scott, who shot to fame with his hit singles Sicko Mode, Butterfly Effect and Mamacita, has also faced scandal throughout his career. In 2021, his Astroworld festival in Houston was the site of a major crowd crush that caused the deaths of 10 people aged between nine and 27.

A statement was issued at the time by Reggio Emilia authorities, after a meeting do decide the future of his upcoming gigs. Translated into English, it read: "The meeting was dedicated to examining the public order and safety issues associated with the American artist's [West] concert and the Travis Scott event, also scheduled at the RCF Arena.

"Based on the assessments made during the committee meeting and further investigations into safety and security aspects, the prefect... [ordered] the prohibition of both concerts. The decision concerns two events scheduled for consecutive dates at the RCF Arena, a venue with a capacity of approximately 103,000 spectators, and was made to ensure public order and safety.

"Given the close temporal connection between the events and the large crowds expected within 24 hours. The overall assessment also took into account the cancellation of previous concerts by the American rapper in other countries and the real risk of counter-demonstrations."

Back in April, West's show in Marseille, France, was cancelled after he was barred from entering the UK. This ultimately led to his headline appearances at London's Wireless Festival being axed over outrage after his antisemitic remarks.

West released a song titled Heil Hitler in 2025 and had previously marketed a swastika T-shirt on his website. He has also attracted severe backlash for publishing antisemitic posts and suggesting slavery was "a choice". In January, West bought a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal to offer an apology, which led with the headline: "To Those I've Hurt".

He stated: "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people." He attributed his behaviour to his bipolar disorder, explaining that it triggered "a four-month-long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life."

After his Wireless performances were cancelled, West vowed to engage with London's Jewish community "to listen". The dad-of-four was due to play at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Turkey this Saturday (May 30) and remains on the line-up to play at Vitesse Arnhem's Gelredome football stadium in the Dutch city on June 6 and 8. Express.co.uk has contacted Scott and West's representatives for a comment.