A growing outcry in Slovakia is challenging Kanye West's headline spot at a major festival, as thousands demand his removal over accusations of antisemitism. A petition has been launched urging Bratislava's mayor to block the artist also known as Ye from headlining the city's Rubicon festival in July. Organizers tout the performance as an exclusive appearance by the "hip-hop visionary," but more than 3,500 people have signed the petition calling West's participation "an insult to historic memory" and a "glorification of wartime violence," per AFP.
The petition, backed by groups including Peace for Ukraine and Cities for Democracy, accuses West of promoting antisemitic ideology and referencing Nazi symbols, even putting swastikas on his merchandise, per the Guardian. Critics highlight that on May 8—the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat—West released a track titled "Heil Hitler" that samples a 1935 Adolf Hitler speech. The song has been banned in Germany for extremist content and removed from major streaming platforms, though it continues to circulate on Elon Musk's X.
Petitioners say allowing West to perform would make Bratislava the only European city to host him at a time when his public statements, not just his music, are seen as a threat to "European memory and historical responsibility." They warn that his show could draw extremist groups and lead to the appearance of Nazi symbols or violent behavior, which would be criminal in Slovakia, a country that lost more than 70,000 Jewish residents to Nazi concentration camps. (This content was created with the help of AI. Read our AI policy.)
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