In the middle of the municipal campaign, the arrival of Kanye West at the Vélodrome de Marseille arouses indignation

A most surprising program. Despite his anti-Semitic, racist releases and his songs glorifying Adolf Hitler, Kanye West will be in concert on June 11 at the Orange Vélodrome. The American rapper, who today calls himself “Ye”, announced his arrival at the Marseille stadium on Wednesday morning on social networks. This will be his only date in France. Maybe one too many?

After this announcement, Benoît Payan, mayor of Marseille and candidate for his succession, immediately declared on X that Kanye West was not “not welcome at the Vélodrome, the temple of living together and of all Marseillais. I refuse to allow Marseille to be a showcase for those who promote hatred and uninhibited Nazism”. His deputy in charge of culture, Jean-Marc Coppola, entrusts Figaro what “Marseille is a land of welcome and refuge, but not an apology for hatred, racism and discrimination”. “I refuse to allow our city to be a showcase for those who promote hatred and uninhibited Nazism”he continues, recalling that this concert is a private program, independent of the municipality.

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The various right-wing candidate in the municipal elections, Martine Vassal, believes that the arrival of the rapper “would be a disastrous signal”. “Those who divide and increase hatred have no place in Marseilleshe explained to Figaro. For six years, the left and the far left imported the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Marseille, favoring the rise of anti-Semitism and Kanye West is one of the personalities who have added fuel to the fire in recent years. It is unthinkable that he would perform at the Vélodrome, a temple of living together, a symbol. »

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The discourse is similar in the ranks of La France insoumise. Hedi Bounouar, chief of staff of Sébastien Delogu, who also manages his municipal campaign, discusses “an insult to the identity of the city, where there is a large Jewish community”. “We are scandalized by the fact that the investment fund which operates the Vélodrome has accepted the arrival of this artist and we think that the Marseille political institutions, even if they do not have regulatory levers, should put monumental pressure to cancel this concert”he explains to Figaro.

The outraged Crif

For his part, the president of the local branch of Crif (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France), Bruno Benjamin, launched a campaign against the arrival of the American artist. “Welcoming to Marseille someone who has claimed admiration for Hitler by saying “I am a Nazi”, “I love Hitler” and made many anti-Semitic comments poses a real moral question”he wrote on X. Before adding: “Marseille is a city marked by history, by the 1943 roundups and by the memory of the victims of Nazi barbarity. Artistic freedom exists. But the trivialization of hatred must never become a spectacle. »

In another publication, Fabienne Bendayan, honorary president of Crif Provence involved in Martine Vassal’s campaign, declared that “anyone who openly proclaims his admiration for Hitler and claims Nazi ideas cannot set foot on the stage of a city whose very soul is woven with diversity, memory and fraternity”. Like her colleague, she asked that Marseille not do “not promoting anti-Semites” and invited the concert organizers “to give up on the artist’s coming to the Vélodrome”.

Bipolar disorder?

At the end of January, the American rapper wanted to improve his image by apologizing for his behavior, justifying it with bipolar disorders from which he had suffered for several years. In a paid page of the Wall Street JournalKanye West’s dit “regret [ses] acts in this state » and be “deeply mortified”. “I am committed to taking responsibility, undergoing treatment and making real, lasting changes. This in no way excuses what I did. I am not a Nazi or anti-Semite. I love the Jewish people”he declared again.

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In a press release sent to AFP, Mars360, exclusive operator of the Stade Vélodrome and organizer of the concert, estimated that “the comments made by the artist in the past arouse legitimate emotion. All questions were asked to the tour manager who is organizing this concert, who explained that the artist has apologized, revealing elements of personal context, and that this world tour is taking place precisely after this mea culpa”. And to ensure that “Mars360 was particularly vigilant, inserting specific clauses to ensure that no illegal comments were made during the concert and that French law was fully respected”.

The banning of a show is very regulated and the Council of State has recalled in several case laws that it is only possible in the event of a risk that comments constituting a criminal offense are made and that the event could cause disturbances to public order. On his site, Kanye West indicates that the ticket office will open on March 11. The price of places could vary between 170 and 630 euros. A European tour is also organized with a date in the Netherlands, on June 6, which is already sold out according to the Weezevent ticket office, and another in Italy, on June 18.