Marseille mayor opposes Kanye West gig over 'unabashed Nazism'

"I refuse to let Marseille be a showcase for those who promote hatred and unabashed Nazism. Someone who openly proclaims his admiration for Hitler and espouses Nazi ideas cannot set foot on the stage of a city whose very soul is woven from diversity, remembrance and brotherhood."

"The 24-time Grammy winner has lost fans and business deals in recent years over racist or antisemitic outbursts, releasing a song titled "Heil Hitler" last May to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II."

"Local state authorities can only ban a concert under strict conditions, if statements at the event risk constituting a criminal offence and if public order is threatened, according to France's highest administrative court. Organising agency Mars 360 told AFP that it had been very careful, inserting specific clauses into the concert contract to ensure that no illegal remarks are made."

Kanye West announced a concert scheduled for June 11th at Marseille's Velodrome stadium, prompting the Socialist mayor Benoit Payan to declare the artist "not welcome" in the city. West has faced significant professional consequences due to racist and antisemitic outbursts, including releasing a song titled "Heil Hitler" last May. While Payan refuses to allow Marseille to become a platform for hatred and Nazism, French administrative law restricts concert bans to cases where statements risk constituting criminal offences and threaten public order. The concert organizer Mars 360 claims to have inserted contractual clauses ensuring no illegal remarks occur. Political opponents, including a former Jewish group leader, also oppose the performance, arguing West's Nazi admiration makes him unsuitable for a city built on diversity and remembrance.

Read at The Local France