US rapper Kanye West has postponed his upcoming Marseille show as French officials consider banning him following the UK’s visa denial.
West, who refers to himself as Ye, was scheduled to perform at the Orange Velodrome in Marseille as part of his musical comeback and latest album rollout on June 11.
However, the mayor of the city, Benoît Payan, has aligned with French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez in arguing that the rapper should be denied entry into France following his involvement in online hate speech.
Hate speech
Last February, West posted a slew of statements online, including “I’m a Nazi” and “Some of my best friends are Jewish and I don’t trust any of them”.
He also ran a Super Bowl ad directing viewers to an online store that briefly sold a $20 T-shirt bearing a black swastika.
In January of this year, West issued a public apology – featured in a full-page Wall Street Journal spread – that stated: “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
The star added that he was “deeply mortified” by his past behaviour and “committed to accountability, treatment and meaningful change”.
West attributed his actions to an undiagnosed brain injury and severe mental-health crisis where he had “lost touch with reality” before experiencing a “manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour”.
Moreover, he was now seeking stability through treatment, asking only for “patience and understanding as I find my way home”.
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Tour postponement
Nuñez is exploring “all possibilities” to block the rapper’s planned concert in France, according to AFP, citing sources within the minister’s inner circle and confirming an earlier report by Libération.
“After much thought and consideration, it is my sole decision to postpone my show in Marseille, France until further notice,” West wrote in a post on X.
In a follow-up statement, the rapper said: “I know it takes time to understand the sincerity of my commitment to make amends.
“I take full responsibility for what’s mine, but I don’t want to put my fans in the middle of it.
“My fans are everything to me. Looking forward to the next shows.”
This comes after the UK government prevented West from entering the UK on the grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good.
He was originally confirmed as a headliner for London’s Wireless music festival but following his ban, the festival was cancelled.
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Lucia Caporalini 
Geoffrey H. Latayan 
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