Marseille Mayor Opposes Kanye West Concert Over Nazism Concerns

Marseille’s mayor Benoît Payan says Kanye West is “not welcome” in the city following the rapper’s antisemitic statements.

By Precious E.

The Marseille mayor has publicly opposed a planned Kanye West concert in the southern French city, saying the rapper is “not welcome” over past antisemitic remarks and references to Nazism.

The concert is scheduled for June 11 at the city-owned Stade Vélodrome and is currently listed as West’s only French date. Ticket sales have not yet opened.

Benoît Payan, the Socialist mayor of Marseille, said he would not allow the city to become “a showcase for those who promote hatred and unabashed Nazism.” He made the remarks in a post on X on Wednesday.

The Kanye West concert in Marseille has drawn criticism because of the artist’s past statements and actions. The 24-time Grammy Award winner, who now goes by Ye, has faced backlash in recent years over antisemitic comments that cost him business partnerships and widespread public support.

In May last year, he released a track titled “Heil Hitler,” coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the end of Nazi Germany in World War II. The move triggered condemnation from Jewish groups and political leaders in several countries.

Legal Hurdles Around the Kanye West Concert in Marseille

Despite the mayor’s opposition, French law sets strict limits on when authorities can cancel a public event. According to rulings by the country’s highest administrative court, a concert can only be banned if there is a clear risk of criminal offenses being committed or a serious threat to public order.

That means the Kanye West concert in Marseille cannot be stopped solely on the basis of past controversies unless officials determine there is a concrete security or legal risk tied to the event itself.

Mars 360, the organizing agency behind the show, said it has inserted specific clauses into the performance contract to ensure that no illegal remarks are made on stage and that French law is respected throughout the event.

The debate has also entered local politics ahead of municipal elections later this month. Fabienne Bendayan, a candidate aligned with the right in the upcoming vote and a former regional head of the Jewish umbrella organization CRIF, said the performance should not go ahead.

She argued that someone who has expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and promoted Nazi ideas should not perform in a city known for its diversity and history of migration.

West, 48, has previously said he struggles with bipolar disorder and acknowledged that he has had episodes he described as “disconnected moments” that affected his judgment. In late 2023, he apologized to Jewish people for saying, “I love Nazis.”

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The dispute over the Kanye West concert in Marseille highlights the tension between artistic freedom and the responsibility of public institutions that host major events. With the venue owned by the city, the controversy places local officials under pressure as they balance legal constraints with public sentiment.

As the scheduled date approaches, the Kanye West concert in Marseille remains on the calendar, with organizers maintaining that French law will be upheld.