“Hip-hop visionary, cultural icon and controversial genius YE will perform July 20, 2025 exclusively at the Rubicon Festival in Bratislava. It will be his only confirmed live performance in Europe in 2025 — and ever first show in Slovakia in history,” organizers confirmed on the event’s website on Monday. “Rubicon Festival is raising the bar for European festivals to a whole new level.”
His participation in the festival has sparked anger. More than 3,000 people have already signed a petition asking the festival to cancel the performance of the rapper, who is formerly known as Kanye West.
The authors of the petition point out that Ye has in recent years repeatedly and openly adopted the symbolism and ideology associated with Nazi Germany, having written, for example, “I am a Nazi” and “I love Hitler” on social media platforms.
“He trivializes the crimes of the totalitarian dictatorial regime and the war atrocities that also affected the Slovak population,” the petition reads.
The petition refers to Ye’s latest track, “Heil Hitler,” which was released on May 8 — the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
The song references the Nazi salute which was used while Adolf Hitler was in power. The single’s artwork resembles a swastika, and the song ends with a lengthy sample from a Hitler speech.
As the petition also mentions, the song is banned in Germany.
Antisemitism = Believing what your ancestors told you about Jews and not believing what Jews are telling you about your ancestors. ABN
American Buddhist Net 