Kanye West’s antisemitic rhetoric has caused more ruckus overseas as the plug was pulled on a music festival he was set to headline in Slovakia.
The 24-time Grammy winner is facing even more backlash on the heels of the release of his song “Heil Hitler.” Just a week after Australia confirmed the cancellation of West’s visa, Slovakia’s Rubicon Festival has too been canceled after thousands signed a petition condemning the controversial rapper.
Branding West — now formally known as Ye — as “one of the world’s most famous antisemites,” the online petition garnered 7,000 signatures. The call to action, endorsed by groups including Peace for Ukraine and Cities for Democracy, described the rapper as someone who has “repeatedly and openly espoused the symbolism and ideology associated with the darkest period of modern world history.”
Along with outrage from fans, Slovak rap artists also reportedly began dropping out the festival, followed by one of its two organizers.
In response to the brewing backlash, the Rubicon Festival called off next weekend’s event, citing “unforeseen circumstances, including external pressure and logistical challenges.”
“This was not an easy decision,” organizers wrote on social media. “Due to media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and partners, we were unable to deliver the festival at the standard of quality you deserve.”
Despite being disappointed by the cancellation, organizers added that they wanted to make it clear “there is no place on our soil for those who celebrate a perverse regime that has taken the lives of millions of people.”
Ye, who for years has unleashed a barrage of antisemitic remarks and denials of the Holocaust, released “Heil Hitler” in May. The track, which included portions of a speech given by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, was quickly pulled from Spotify, SoundCloud and other streaming platforms.
Along with praising the murderous German Führer on social media, Ye in February purchased a Super Bowl ad promoting his brand, Yeezy, which deferred customers to a site that only sold white T-shirts featuring swastikas.
