Kanye West Dropped from Slovak Festival Amid Global Outrage Over “Heil Hitler” Song
The Rubicon Hip Hop Festival in Bratislava has officially canceled Kanye West’s scheduled performance, originally set for July 20, following widespread condemnation over the rapper’s latest controversial track glorifying Adolf Hitler.
West—who now legally goes by “Ye”—sparked a fresh wave of outrage with his May 8 release of the track “Heil Hitler”, which coincided with the 80th anniversary of the Nazi regime’s defeat in World War II. The song ends with a segment from an actual Hitler speech and has been widely criticized as deeply offensive and historically inflammatory.
Although the Rubicon performance would have been Ye’s only confirmed live appearance in Europe this year, public opposition surged. Thousands signed petitions demanding the cancellation, led by civil groups warning that the rapper’s behavior reflects “repeated and open adherence to Nazi ideology and symbols.”
Late Wednesday, Rubicon festival organizers confirmed the cancellation via Instagram, citing mounting “media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and partners.” While their statement avoided directly referencing West’s antisemitic song, they acknowledged that “this was not an easy decision.”
Set to run from July 18 to 20, Rubicon had billed itself as Central Europe’s leading hip hop event, with Offset and Sheck Wes also topping the lineup alongside West.
This isn’t the first time West has faced international backlash over antisemitic behavior. Just last week, Australia revoked his visa in response to repeated antisemitic remarks made over the past two years.
In 2022, West posted that he was going to go “death con 3 on the Jews” (a likely misspelling of DEFCON 3), prompting global outrage. He followed the post with a claim that “Black people are actually Jew[s],” attempting to deflect criticism.
As a result, Adidas, CAA, Apple Music, and Foot Locker all severed ties with West. His net worth and influence in mainstream industries significantly diminished in the wake of these decisions.
In a surprising turn, West declared in May that he was ending his antisemitic rhetoric—just hours after the Washington DC shooting in which Israeli embassy staffers Yaron Lischnisky and Sarah Milgram were murdered. While he made no direct reference to the tragedy, West posted multiple Instagram messages expressing remorse and a call for peace, writing:
“God forgive me for the pain I’ve caused.”
“GOD CALLS FOR PEACE.”
Despite these posts, critics remain skeptical of West’s intentions, particularly given the release of “Heil Hitler” shortly thereafter.
The cancellation at Rubicon adds to a growing international consensus: platforming hate—regardless of celebrity status—is unacceptable. As Rubicon organizers put it, even with the difficult nature of their decision, “certain lines should not be crossed in any forum, especially not through art.”
