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Bratislava’s Rubicon hip-hop festival has been canceled after petitions wanted the removal of Kanye ‘Ye’ West due to his antisemitic song, ‘Heil Hitler.’ Here’s what went down.
Kanye “Ye” West has reignited global condemnation with a series of public antisemitic rants and a shocking single titled “Heil Hitler.” Released on May 8, 2025 — the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat — the track glorifies Adolf Hitler. And it also explicitly brands West himself as a Nazi. The song was swiftly banned on major streaming services. This led to West being denied visas in countries such as Australia and Germany. Now, West is further facing the consequences with the cancellation of a major European music festival.
Petitions to remove Kanye ‘Ye’ West from Bratislava’s Rubicon hip-hop festival led to the festival’s cancellation
Bratislava’s burgeoning Rubicon Festival, branded as Slovakia’s premier hub for “vision and provocation” in hip‑hop, was scheduled for July 18-20, 2025. Its headliner lineup boasted heavyweights like Offset, Sheck Wes, and Ken Carson. But the booking of Kanye “Ye” West ignited fierce backlash. In late June, over 4,800 petitioners — including groups like Peace for Ukraine and Cities for Democracy — condemned West’s involvement, calling his presence “an insult to historic memory” given his release of the antisemitic track “Heil Hitler.” The single glorifies Nazi ideology and incorporates a 1935 Hitler speech.
By early July 2025, mounting media scrutiny, partners and artists pulling out, and concerns about hosting extremist ideology in Slovakia led organizers to cancel the entire festival “due to media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and partners,” according to The Guardian. This means West’s only confirmed live performance in Europe has been canceled.
Currently, the Instagram for Rubicon Festival only has 1,676 followers. The Instagram has also been set to private.
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