France is on the cusp of banning Kanye West from entering the country, presenting a fresh obstacle to the controversial artist’s image rehabilitation and 2026 comeback. The potential move follows the United Kingdom barring the rapper from entry over anti-Semitic remarks and music he has released in recent years.
West, who now goes by Ye, is scheduled to perform a June 11 concert in Marseille at Stade Vélodrome. But Benoît Payan, the mayor of the southern coastal city, has aligned with French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez in arguing that the rapper has no place in the country following his use of hate speech online and in songs like “Heil Hitler,” released in May and swiftly banned from streaming platforms. West has also openly embraced Nazi imagery in merchandise produced by Yeezy, his fashion and lifestyle brand.
Nuñez is exploring “all possibilities” to block the rapper’s planned concert in France, AFP reported Tuesday, citing sources within the minister’s inner circle and confirming an earlier report by Libération. According to those sources, Nuñez discussed canceling the Stade Vélodrome show with regional prefect Jacques Witkowski and Payan during a visit to Marseille last week.
Payan’s opposition to West dates back to early March, when he made his stance clear in a post on X.
“I refuse to let Marseille be a showcase for those who promote hatred and unabashed Nazism. Kanye West is not welcome at the Vélodrome, our temple of living together and belonging to all Marseillais,” Payan wrote on March 4.
France appears to be following the U.K.’s lead. The development comes a week after West was barred from entering the country shortly after being announced as the headliner for all three nights of Wireless Festival, set for mid-July in London’s Victoria Park. Major sponsors, including Pepsi, Airbnb and PayPal, pulled out of the festival after his booking, though none explicitly cited West as the reason.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan publicly denounced both West and the festival’s decision to book him. On April 7, he was denied a visa.
Amid mounting controversy, Wireless later announced that this year’s event had been canceled. Ahead of that decision, West released a statement saying he would be willing to meet with London’s Jewish community in an effort to make amends.
“My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace and love through my music,” he said. “I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the U.K. in person, to listen. I know words aren’t enough — I’ll have to show change through my actions.”
While a ban in France appears increasingly likely, West may not have to scrap all of his European tour dates. The Netherlands has indicated it does not plan to block his performances, with shows scheduled for early June. He also remains barred from entering Australia — the home country of his wife, Bianca Censori — which revoked his entry privileges following the release of “Heil Hitler” last year.
The rapper is currently promoting his new album, Bully, positioned as a comeback project after several years marked by controversy and side ventures. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and has posted solid streaming numbers on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, suggesting that a portion of his fan base remains engaged despite the backlash.
Ahead of the album’s release, West published a lengthy mea culpa in The Wall Street Journal as a full-page ad, apologizing for his anti-Semitic remarks. In the letter, he attributed his behavior in part to long-standing personal issues and his bipolar disorder.
West’s remaining European tour dates include stops at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia on July 18; Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid on July 30; and Estádio do Algarve in Almancil on Aug. 7. His two nights at L.A.’s SoFi Stadium drew a sold-out crowd who were dazzled by the unique, eye-popping stage design.
On Tuesday, The Hollywood Reporter reached out to West’s representative for comment on reports of an imminent ban in France, but did not receive an immediate response.
