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Italian authorities have banned an upcoming concert by US rapper Kanye West in the northern city of Reggio Emilia, citing public safety grounds.
Local governor Salvatore Angieri blocks the July 18 performance following formal requests from several organisations, including the local Jewish community.
The groups expressed serious reservations about West appearing at the Pulse of Gaia Festival due to his history of antisemitic statements and remarks glorifying Adolf Hitler.
The ban also forces the cancellation of a July 17 concert by fellow US rapper Travis Scott.
The prefecture explained that hosting two massive crowds within a 24-hour window posed an unacceptable risk to public order and safety.
Furthermore, officials admitted that the concrete threat of counter-demonstrations and West’s recent string of cancellations in other nations heavily influenced their final decision.
This Italian ban adds to a growing list of European rejections for West, who previously blamed his controversial outbursts on bipolar disorder.
The UK government recently blocked him from entering the country, forcing a festival cancellation, while authorities in France, Poland, and Switzerland have similarly barred him from performing.
Although West took out a full-page newspaper advertisement in January denying he is an antisemite, international pushback continues to disrupt his European tour schedule.
