The city of Marseille, in southeastern France, said on Wednesday it was opposed to the arrival of American rapper Kanye West, who has made anti-Semitic remarks, and is due to give a concert on June 11.

"I refuse to let Marseille be a showcase for those who promote hatred and unashamed Nazism. Kanye West is not welcome at the Vélodrome, our temple of living together and of all Marseillais," declared Benoît Payan, the current mayor (left) and candidate for his succession in France's second largest city, on X.

This concert, currently his only date in France, is organised by the agency Mars360, exclusive operator of the Orange Vélodrome, an iconic stadium in Marseille which belongs to the city.

The banning of a show is, however, very strictly regulated and the Council of State has reminded in several rulings that it is only possible in the event of a risk that statements constituting a criminal offence will be made and that the event may cause disturbances to public order.

In a statement sent to AFP, Mars360 said that "the artist's past remarks have given rise to legitimate emotion. All questions have been put to the promoter organizing this concert, who explained that the artist has apologized, revealing personal contextual elements, and that this world tour is taking place precisely after this mea culpa."

And to assure that "Mars360 was particularly vigilant, inserting specific clauses to ensure that no illegal remarks were made during the concert and that French law was fully respected."

"+I am a Nazi+, +I love Hitler+: Kanye West is not welcome in Marseille. He 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," said Fabienne Bendayan, running mate of the right-wing and center candidate Martine Vassal in the Marseille municipal elections and former president of the regional branch of the representative of Jewish institutions of France (Crif).

The 48-year-old musician, who has lost many fans and several business contracts in recent years after anti-Semitic or racist releases, released a track "Heil Hitler" on May 8, 2025, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II.

In December 2023, the rapper apologized to the Jewish community after stating a few months earlier that he "loved Nazis".

In 2022, he also sparked outrage by appearing with the slogan "White Lives Matter" ("White Lives Matter", a play on the famous slogan "Black Lives Matter") and attended a dinner at Donald Trump's house with the anti-Semitic white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

Suffering from bipolar disorder for years, Kanye West, who changed his name to Ye, explained at the end of January that when "you are in a manic phase, you don't think you are sick," adding: "I am not a Nazi or an anti-Semite. I love the Jewish people."