The hip hop festival Rubicon, which will be held in Bratislava, Slovakia, announced the cancellation of Kanye West's show scheduled for July 20.
The decision comes after a strong wave of public backlash triggered by the release of a song in which the American rapper glorifies Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. The concert in Bratislava had been West's only confirmed live performance in Europe for this year.
West, who legally changed his name to "Ye," sparked a new controversy on May 8 with the release of his track "Heil Hitler", coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II.
West's inclusion in the festival line-up prompted a swift reaction: thousands of people signed petitions demanding his exclusion. Two organizations leading the protests stated that the artist, a multiple Grammy Award winner, "repeatedly and openly adheres to symbols and ideologies associated with one of the darkest periods in modern history."
In a statement published on Instagram, Rubicon's organizers confirmed the cancellation of the show, citing "media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and sponsors."








