Restrictions stops Kanye West concert in Moscow

(MENAFN) American rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, will not be performing in Russia, according to Eduard Ratnikov, the founder of the TCI concert agency. In an interview with media outlet Podyem, Ratnikov explained that hosting a concert in Moscow could jeopardize West's career by risking the loss of his standing in Western markets.

Ratnikov's comments follow the circulation of videos on social media showing a man resembling the rapper arriving at the Four Seasons hotel in central Moscow, as well as footage of him and his entourage in a pedestrian underpass near Red Square. Local reports indicate that the primary purpose of West's visit was to celebrate the birthday of Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy, who was appointed as the new creative director for West's Yeezy brand in December 2023.

The promoter highlighted the concerns among officials regarding any association with West's planned concert, stating that expectations for a Moscow show during his visit are unrealistic. “The officials that I contacted after Kanye announced that he would tour Russia and Africa are afraid of any association with such a move,” Ratnikov noted, without providing specifics about when or where such an announcement was made.

While Ratnikov acknowledged that West could visit Russia for personal reasons or leisure, he insisted that an actual performance in the country is out of the question. “According to my information, no one even discussed anything like this with Luzhniki Stadium; neither in May, nor in June or now. Speculations look like fake news from some eccentric people seeking hype,” he asserted.

Overall, the sanctions and political climate surrounding Russia make a concert by Kanye West highly improbable, and the promoter’s statements underscore the complexities involved in such a potential event.

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