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3,500 Sign Petition to Block Kanye West from Slovakian Festival

By Orgesta Tolaj

|

25 June 2025

Kanye West and Bianca Censori Divorce

© bbiancacensori / Instagram

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A petition backed by over 3,500 signatories and supported by activist groups like Peace for Ukraine and Cities for Democracy is urging Bratislava’s mayor to cancel Kanye West’s (legally Ye) performance at the Rubicon Festival in July.

Protesters label West—dubbed “one of the world’s most famous antisemites”—a glorifier of wartime violence and an affront to Holocaust victims.

Why The Uproar? Nazi Symbolism and Extremism Concerns

Signatories highlight West’s recent behavior, including selling a T-shirt featuring a swastika and releasing the controversially titled track “Heil Hitler” on the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat. The song—banned in Germany and removed from multiple streaming platforms—includes a sample from a 1935 Hitler speech. Activists warn that hosting Ye could draw extremist groups and normalize hate speech in Slovakia, where more than 70,000 Jews were deported and murdered during WWII.

Kanye West
© Kathy Hutchins / Vecteezy

Rubicon Festival Defends the Booking

Despite the backlash, festival organizers describe West as a “hip-hop visionary, cultural icon and controversial genius,” asserting the show will be Ye’s only European performance in 2025 and his debut in Slovakia. They say the booking represents a major coup and elevates Rubicon’s standing in the European music scene.

European Memory and Responsibility at Risk

Critics insist the performance isn’t about artistic freedom—it’s a challenge to Europe’s hard-won historical conscience. The petition deems Ye’s public embrace of Nazi imagery “unacceptable,” noting Slovakia’s collective trauma from the Holocaust. They argue that allowing his show sends a dangerous signal, especially in a country still healing from authoritarian legacies.

Wider Debate Over Artistic License vs Hate Speech

The controversy reignites questions about the boundaries of creative expression. While some defend West’s right to perform, others stress that his recent actions go beyond provocation into the territory of hate speech and extremist support. Last year’s similar protests around Kanye West in Europe largely failed to prevent performances, raising doubts about the petition’s impact.

Kanye West Riccardo Tisci
© Kathy Hutchins / Vecteezy

What’s at Stake Next?

Festival organizers and Bratislava officials now face a dilemma: uphold cultural freedom or uphold moral responsibility. Any decision to cancel or proceed will be scrutinized—domestically and internationally. Should the show go ahead, it risks emboldening extremist voices. However, should it be canceled, it may reignite debates about censorship in the arts.

You might also want to read: Why Do People Hate Geminis So Much?

Orgesta Tolaj

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