The mayor of San Antonio has called for the cancellation of Kanye West’s upcoming July 4 concert at the city-funded Alamodome, citing the American rapper’s history of hate speech and antisemitism, per deadline.com.
Despite the opposition from Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, tickets for the Independence Day performance remain on sale. Jones stated that a city-owned facility should not host an individual with a record of hate speech, particularly on the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The backlash in Texas mirrors similar opposition in Florida. Two performances scheduled for later in June in Tampa have prompted calls for cancellation from Senator Rick Scott. The senator argued that allowing West to perform at a publicly-owned arena represents an affront to community values.
The widespread resistance follows West’s highly publicised controversies in 2025, during which he openly declared himself a Nazi and sold merchandise featuring swastikas. In January, the rapper placed an advertisement in the Wall Street Journal apologising for his actions, attributing his behaviour to a severe four-month manic episode.
West’s international touring schedule has already faced significant disruptions this year. In June, a performance in Poland was cancelled, with the nation’s culture minister stating that artistic freedom does not justify the spread of hatred. A planned show in Prague also collapsed earlier this month after the venue withdrew its support.
Government intervention has further limited his overseas appearances. French officials recently postponed a local festival to block the artist from performing. In April, the UK Home Office banned West from entering the country, resulting in the cancellation of his headline slot at the Wireless Festival, following a similar visa denial by Australia last year.
•Featured image: Kanye West/Getty Images