Kanye West, now known as Ye, was set to perform live in South Korea on May 31, 2025, at Incheon Munhak Main Stadium. However, the show was suddenly canceled by Coupang, the South Korean e-commerce company that was organizing the event.
Coupang stated that “recent controversies involving the artist” were the main reason for the cancellation.
The biggest reason for canceling the concert was Ye’s new song titled “Heil Hitler,” released on May 8 — a date known as Victory in Europe Day. The track has caused massive backlash for including the phrase “Heil Hitler” multiple times and using audio from a 1935 Adolf Hitler speech.
Nigga HEIL HITLER from (Kanye West) Ye pic.twitter.com/EBlNZKYlE6
— Luc (@lucgrosek) May 16, 2025
The reaction was swift and strong. Human rights groups, music fans, and political leaders spoke out against the song. South Korean audiences in particular were offended by what they saw as an insensitive and offensive message. As the criticism grew, Coupang made the decision to drop the event entirely.
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