Slovakian music festival featuring Kanye ‘Ye' West cancelled
Organizers announced the news on Instagram, with the Rubicon Festival Team saying: 'This was not an easy decision. Due to media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and partners, we were unable to deliver the festival at the standard of quality you deserve. We are truly grateful for your support and trust. For those who have purchased tickets, please be patient – all refund information will be sent via email within 14 days.'
They added: 'This is not the end of Rubicon. We are not giving up. We're already working to come back stronger.'
Une publication partagée par RUBICON FESTIVAL (@rubiconfestival)
The festival cited unspecified and unforeseen circumstances, including logistical challenges and external pressures – which could refer to the petition that was launched last month opposing Ye's performance.
Their petition described the Ye booking as 'an insult to historic memory, a glorification of wartime violence and debasement of all victims of the Nazi regime'.
The Rubicon festival, which bills itself as a cultural event of 'vision and provocation,' had previously revealed plans for an exclusive mid-July performance by what it called a 'hip-hop visionary, cultural icon, and controversial genius.'
They claimed the Bratislava show would be Ye's only European performance in 2025.
Last week, we reported that Ye had his Australian visa cancelled, following the release of the rapper's song titled 'Heil Hitler'.
In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the country's home affairs minister Tony Burke said: "If someone argued that anti-Semitism was rational, I would not let them come here. (...) [West] has been coming to Australia for a long time… and he's made a lot of offensive comments. But my officials looked at it again once he released the Heil Hitler song, and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia."
The rapper's song, released on 8 May - coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat - has been widely condemned and banned on most music streaming platforms.
Ye has previously identified as a Nazi and his anti-Semitic comments have been numerous over the years. This year alone, he made a shocking string of antisemitic posts, which included comments like 'I love Hitler' and 'I'm a Nazi.'
He has also come under fire for selling a white t-shirt with a large swastika emblem on the chest – an item listed as 'HH-01' on his website, a reference to the 'Heil Hitler' chant.
Following the online rampage and the posting of a KKK photo, he was dropped by his talent agency.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LeMonde
an hour ago
- LeMonde
Tariffs: EU hands Trump a political win to avoid trade chaos
Suddenly, Donald Trump leaned toward Ursula von der Leyen and extended his hand, praising, with his signature superlatives, "the biggest deal ever made." Up to that point, the European Commission president had remained still in her large green velvet chair, but she accepted the handshake. That gesture closed, on Sunday, July 27, dozens of hours of sometimes bewildering negotiations between the European and American delegations, culminating in the meeting held in the ballroom of the sprawling Turnberry golf resort, owned by Trump, on Scotland's west coast. The suspense lasted until the very last minute. At the start of the meeting, the Republican, claiming to be "not in a good mood," still estimated the odds of reaching a deal at 50%. The agreement was clinched just five days before the August 1 deadline he had previously set, after which European exports would have faced punitive tariffs of 30%. Faced with two evils, the 27 EU member states chose what they saw as the lesser: an unbalanced compromise favoring the US rather than risking a full-scale trade war with unpredictable consequences. The choice was of "stability over total unpredictability," European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic explained on a flight from Brussels to Glasgow. While German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the agreement without much enthusiasm, it was Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever who best summed up the mood among European leaders: "This is a moment of relief, but not of celebration." French Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad, meanwhile, recognized the deal would bring "temporary stability" but called it "unbalanced."
Fashion Network
10 hours ago
- Fashion Network
Clé de Peau Beauté names Nicole Kidman new brand ambassador
Luxury skincare brand Clé de Peau Beauté announced on Friday the appointment of Nicole Kidman as its newest brand ambassador. In speaking about the appointment, the Japanese beauty brand said the Australian-American actress and producer, "embodies its vision of radiance—where a blend of intelligence, artistry, and purpose converge," according to a press release. "We are delighted to welcome Nicole to the Clé de Peau Beauté family," said Mizuki Hashimoto, chief brand officer of Clé de Peau Beauté. "We believe radiance is more than appearance; it's an inner strength that drives positive change. Nicole exemplifies this belief through her inspiring journey, showcasing how passion and purpose unlock a Radiance that empowers others." With an acting career spanning more than 40 years across several genres, Honolulu-born Kidman first gained international attention with her role in the movie "Dead Calm" (1989), before rising to global fame after starring opposite former husband Tom Cruise in "Days of Thunder" (1990). From here, the 58 year old inked critically acclaimed roles in films such as "To Die For" (1995), " Moulin Rouge!" (2001), and "The Hours" (2002), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Kidman continued to demonstrate range on the silver screen with performances in "Cold Mountain" (2003), "The Others" (2001), "Rabbit Hole" (2010), and "Lion" (2016). Most recently, she starred opposite Harris Dickinson in erotic thriller, "Babygirl" (2024). In television, Kidman earned Emmy Awards for her role in HBO's "Big Little Lies" (2017–2019) and starred "The Undoing" (2020) and "Nine Perfect Strangers" (2021). Beyond acting, she has produced several projects through her company, Blossom Films. Kidman is also a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for women and girl's empowerment through education, economic opportunities, and the fight against gender-based violence. "I am thrilled to be joining the Clé de Peau Beauté family," said Kidman. "I am inspired by the brand's commitment to celebrate individual beauty across every aspect of a person's life. I look forward to what we can create together." Founded in 1982, Clé de Peau Beauté forms part of Shiseido 's prestige division, and is positioned as the Japanese company's ultra-high-end offering, known for fusing Japanese scientific innovation with French-inspired elegance to unlock skin's natural radiance. The brand is available in 26 markets worldwide.
Fashion Network
12 hours ago
- Fashion Network
Clé de Peau Beauté names Nicole Kidman new brand ambassador
Luxury skincare brand Clé de Peau Beauté announced on Friday the appointment of Nicole Kidman as its newest brand ambassador. In speaking about the appointment, the Japanese beauty brand said the Australian-American actress and producer, "embodies its vision of radiance—where a blend of intelligence, artistry, and purpose converge," according to a press release. "We are delighted to welcome Nicole to the Clé de Peau Beauté family," said Mizuki Hashimoto, chief brand officer of Clé de Peau Beauté. "We believe radiance is more than appearance; it's an inner strength that drives positive change. Nicole exemplifies this belief through her inspiring journey, showcasing how passion and purpose unlock a Radiance that empowers others." With an acting career spanning more than 40 years across several genres, Honolulu-born Kidman first gained international attention with her role in the movie "Dead Calm" (1989), before rising to global fame after starring opposite former husband Tom Cruise in "Days of Thunder" (1990). From here, the 58 year old inked critically acclaimed roles in films such as "To Die For" (1995), " Moulin Rouge!" (2001), and "The Hours" (2002), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Kidman continued to demonstrate range on the silver screen with performances in "Cold Mountain" (2003), "The Others" (2001), "Rabbit Hole" (2010), and "Lion" (2016). Most recently, she starred opposite Harris Dickinson in erotic thriller, "Babygirl" (2024). In television, Kidman earned Emmy Awards for her role in HBO's "Big Little Lies" (2017–2019) and starred "The Undoing" (2020) and "Nine Perfect Strangers" (2021). Beyond acting, she has produced several projects through her company, Blossom Films. Kidman is also a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for women and girl's empowerment through education, economic opportunities, and the fight against gender-based violence. "I am thrilled to be joining the Clé de Peau Beauté family," said Kidman. "I am inspired by the brand's commitment to celebrate individual beauty across every aspect of a person's life. I look forward to what we can create together." Founded in 1982, Clé de Peau Beauté forms part of Shiseido 's prestige division, and is positioned as the Japanese company's ultra-high-end offering, known for fusing Japanese scientific innovation with French-inspired elegance to unlock skin's natural radiance. The brand is available in 26 markets worldwide.
