Prague will not host Ye concert, says mayor: 'No room for antisemitism'

Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda has spoken out against a possible concert by American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, signaling that the city will not support hosting the controversial artist. His remarks come amid growing calls from officials and human rights activists to block the performance, citing Ye’s repeated antisemitic statements.

Speculation about a Prague concert followed reports that Ye’s canceled July appearance at the Rubikon festival near Bratislava could be moved to the Czech capital. But city leaders are now distancing themselves from any effort to bring the event to Prague, saying the artist’s views are incompatible with the city’s values and history.

Svoboda told iDnes.cz this week that “there is no request to organize such a concert, and if we were asked, we would not approve it.” In a separate interview with heyfomo.cz, he stressed that “there is no room for antisemitism in Prague.”

Deputy Mayor Jiří Pospíšil, who oversees cultural affairs, reinforced Svoboda’s stance, warning that Prague should not provide a platform for someone who has openly praised Adolf Hitler.

“Prague is not the place to celebrate Nazism," Pospíšil said. "We experienced firsthand the horrors of the Second World War, and we must not give room to people who glorify these crimes.”

"I am strongly against Kanye West performing in Prague," he added. "A person who does not hide his admiration for Hitler has no business in Prague!" Both he and Svoboda emphasized that city authorities would not facilitate the concert, even if organizers sought official cooperation.

Their comments follow weeks of speculation about Ye’s touring plans after the failed Rubikon festival. The rapper had been slated to perform near Bratislava in July, but uncertainty around the event and mounting public opposition led promoters to cancel it.

Slovak media reported that promoters were in talks to relocate the concert to Prague, offering ticket exchanges or refunds to those who purchased seats for the Slovak show. However, no Czech promoter has publicly confirmed the Prague plans.

Human rights advocates in the Czech Republic have mounted their own opposition to a potential Ye concert. A petition launched earlier this week collected more than 10,000 signatures in just 36 hours, including endorsements from prominent cultural figures, legal experts, and former ombudsman Anna Šabatová.

Activists argue that Ye’s recent track Heil Hitler, along with merchandise featuring swastikas, crosses a line into open incitement. They caution that such an event could attract extremist groups from across Europe and humiliate Holocaust survivors.

In their open letter to Mayor Svoboda, signatories urged city officials to work with law enforcement, venue operators, and promoters to ensure the concert cannot take place.

The backlash reflects broader international responses to Ye’s statements. Earlier this summer, the artist was denied a visa to Australia, the home country of his wife Bianca Censori, after releasing the Hitler-themed track.

In Slovakia, opponents of his scheduled festival appearance branded him “one of the most well-known antisemites,” a characterization echoed by Czech activists.