Unfortunately, performances by two well-known music artists scheduled to take place at two different festivals in Reggio Emilia, Italy, have been officially cancelled after concerns were raised by civil society organizations and others.
The main artist at the center of the scandal was the notorious rapper Kanye West , who was supposed to perform at the Pulse of Gaia festival at the RCF arena in mid-July. But now, as reported by The Guardian , prefect of the city Salvatore Angieri officially cancelled his concert. Another popular rapper, Travis Scott , was scheduled to perform the same weekend at the same venue, and his concert was also cancelled.
The Reggio Emilia government issued a statement regarding the decision, noting that they had participated in meetings to "examine public order and security issues related to the concert of the American artist (West) and the event with Travis Scott" after people expressed dissatisfaction with the planned performances. West, in particular, has become a highly controversial figure in recent years due to anti-Semitic remarks and other problematic behavior. .
«"Based on the assessments made during the committee meeting and further investigations into security aspects, the prefect... (ordered) the banning of both concerts," the statement reads. It goes on to note other factors, such as the large number of people scheduled to attend both concerts within such a short time difference.
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The statement also cited West's previously cancelled concerts, such as London's 2026 Wireless Festival, and said: "The overall assessment also took into account the cancellation of the American rapper's previous concerts in other countries and the real risk of counter-demonstrations.".
Scott hasn't escaped controversy either. In 2021, a deadly crowd crush occurred at his Astroworld festival in Texas, killing 10 people and injuring many more. It's unclear whether this incident contributed to the decision to cancel his concert in Italy.
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This article was originally published by Parade on May 31, 2026, in the News section. Add Parade to your list of recommended sources by clicking here.