Should the US controversial rapper Kanye West perform in Algarve stadium in Portugal this summer? The European Jewish Community (EJC) has called on Portuguese authorities to cancel planned performances by West, known as Ye, over what it describes as his “repeated promotion of antisemitic conspiracy theories and Nazi rhetoric”.
West is scheduled to return to Portugal this summer, marking his first appearance in the country in 15 years as part of his European comeback tour.
The EJC argued that the issue extends beyond artistic freedom and concerns the values public institutions should uphold.
“This is not a question of artistic freedom. It is a question of whether public institutions, public venues and public entities should be associated with an individual who has repeatedly spread hatred against Jews and expressed admiration for a regime responsible for the murder of millions,” the organisation said.
The rapper has faced mounting criticism in recent years over a series of controversial statements and actions. In February 2025, West began selling T-shirts bearing swastika imagery, while in May he released a song entitled Heil Hitler. The track also closes with a long excerpt from one of the dictator’s speeches and features cover art resembling a swastika.
The EJC urged Portugal to follow the example of other European countries that have taken action against the performer. The UK Labour Government barred West from entering Britain, reportedly on the grounds that his presence would not be “conducive to the public good”.
The EJC also linked its concerns to what it says is a broader rise in antisemitism across Europe.
“At a time when antisemitism is rising across Europe and only days after the Lisbon Synagogue was targeted in an antisemitic act of vandalism, allowing such an event to proceed without a clear response sends a deeply troubling message. Jewish communities should not be left wondering whether their concerns are being heard,” it said.
Despite the controversy, West’s European tour continues.
The artist performed in Istanbul three days ago at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium.
Limited number of tour dates remain on the schedule for Kanye West, including two concerts in the Netherlands.
Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Bart van den Brink said last week that authorities required “solid grounds” to prevent individuals from entering the country and that West’s past statements did not currently justify such a measure.
West is due to perform in Arnhem, Netherlands on June 6 and June 8.
