Albania defends 4-million-euro subsidy for Kanye West concert as anti-corruption protests rage
Prime Minister Edi Rama says the funding prevents embarrassment as ticket sales fall far short of the 60,000-capacity target; artists protest using public money for a rapper known for antisemitic diatribes.
The Albanian government is standing by a 4-million-euro public subsidy for a Kanye West concert in Tirana, scheduled for 11 July, despite widespread criticism over the rapper's history of antisemitic remarks and the country's own political turmoil. The concert is meant to place the Albanian capital on the map of major European events, but ticket sales have been weak and the financing has drawn sharp rebukes from artists and opposition figures.
The subsidy and the stadium
Culture Minister Blendi Gonxhe said the aid was necessary to guarantee the concert would go ahead. He dismissed earlier reports that the dedicated stadium cost as much as 60 million euros, putting the real figure at around 2.2 million euros.
The success of a concert is not measured only by ticket sales revenues.
The venue was built to hold 60,000 people, but local media report that sales are far below that goal. Prime Minister Edi Rama previously stated that 25,000 tickets had been sold to foreign visitors and that the funding was granted to prevent cancellation and, in his words, avoid putting Albania in an embarrassing position.
Kanye West's controversies
The 49-year-old rapper, also known as Ye, has provoked outrage across Europe with antisemitic outbursts, including glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, a song titled "Heil Hitler," and selling T-shirts bearing a swastika on his website. He later denied being antisemitic and attributed his statements to bipolar disorder, but several European countries cancelled his concerts.
Protests against the Prime Minister
The subsidy controversy has unfolded against a backdrop of daily demonstrations demanding Rama's resignation. The protests began weeks ago over a planned tourism complex in a protected nature reserve in the south of the country, a project linked to the family of US President Donald Trump. That development has become a rallying point for anger over perceived corruption in Albania.
25,000 tickets have been sold to foreign visitors.
Artists push back
On Thursday, artists gathered in front of the culture ministry to protest the subsidy. Contemporary art curator Andi Tepelena expressed the frustration of many critics.
Albania has many urgencies and priorities, but Edi Rama chose to finance an artist who supported fascism, antisemitism and justified slavery.
Minister Gonxhe countered by highlighting expected tourism benefits, insisting the event would still bring international attention to Tirana. The concert is set to go ahead on Saturday despite the backlash and the unresolved political grievances on the streets.
