The controversial Italian performance by Kanye West has been delayed due to protests from war veterans who criticized him for expressing admiration for Hitler

Controversial rapper Kanye West’s planned concert in Italy has been postponed due to protests from war veterans who expressed their anger over West’s praise of Hitler.

The American rapper was scheduled to perform at an open-air venue in Reggio Emilia on Friday, and organizers had been in discussions with local authorities regarding the event. However, the concert, initially planned for October 20 with an expected 100,000 fans, faced several challenges that led to its postponement.

One significant factor was a rail strike scheduled for the same day, which would have posed transportation issues for concertgoers. Additionally, heavy rain was forecasted for Friday evening, and since the venue had no shelter, it risked turning into a mud bath.

A spokesperson for the Reggio Emilia prefecture stated, “Given the fact that a rail strike was planned for the same day, and heavy rain is expected, it was considered prudent to postpone the event. Our primary concern is ensuring the safety and security of all attendees, and if transportation issues and adverse weather conditions are present, the concert cannot proceed safely. The organizers have been offered an alternative date of October 27, and we are awaiting their response.”

This development follows strong objections from local veterans’ groups who were outraged that the concert was even considered due to West’s previous statements praising Adolf Hitler and Nazism. In a shocking interview last year, West made disturbing remarks about Hitler, saying, “Every human being has something of value they brought to the table, especially Hitler. I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis. There’s a lot of things that I love about Hitler, a lot of things, I like Hitler, I am a Nazi.”

Albertina Soliani, vice president of the National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI), expressed her disapproval, stating, “It’s time to say enough to these people who believe they can say what they want. Someone can be a fantastic singer, but they are also judged by what they say, and West has made inhumane declarations. Given the current state of the world, we cannot accept this concert. We are committed to upholding certain values, which are liberty and democracy, and we cannot support those who preach hate. In my opinion, he should stay at home. Reggio Emilia has always appreciated individuals who have fought for noble principles, and we stand with the oppressed, not those who promote hatred.”

Ermete Fiaccadori, ANPI regional president for Reggio Emilia, also strongly criticized West, saying, “I hope this concert does not proceed. This artist has a significant following of young people, but his message is deeply troubling. His remarks display a gross misunderstanding of Adolf Hitler’s place in history. While we respect artistic freedom, what Kanye West says and does leaves me deeply concerned. We condemn this concert entirely and are apprehensive about the message it conveys. This isn’t about censorship; it’s about a concert that is wholly inappropriate. Reggio has a long history of opposing the ideas of Adolf Hitler, and many lost their lives in that fight.”

Kanye West, aged 46, has been in Italy with his Australian Italian wife, Bianca Censori, aged 28, since August. He is reported to be working on a new album at a recording studio in Milan.