Kanye West seemingly claims he can't book arenas after antisemitic remarks, Internet tells him to 'retire'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kanye West took to Instagram recently to ask for help booking arenas for his upcoming tour, claiming he has had trouble securing venues over the past year.
In a since-deleted video, the rapper said the only arena he's had access to is Chicago's United Center, which sold out in seven minutes, as reported by Rolling Stone.
He hinted that his string of controversies is the reason he is unable to book venues, saying, "And when I call, people say there's no avails for me, and you know why that is."
Kanye West says he needs help with his shows pic.twitter.com/c6oYmEYS7T
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) February 7, 2024
Kanye West's troubles booking venues stem from backlash over antisemitic remarks
"We just sold out United Center in seven minutes, and I just want to express to everybody out there to see if there’s anyone that can help with this. It’s the only arena that I had access to in the past year. And when I call, people say there’s no avails for me, and you know why that is. So if there’s anybody out there that can help with this, please," West explained in the now-deleted video.
West's troubles booking venues likely stem from the intense backlash he faced in October 2022 over a series of antisemitic comments. On X (formerly Twitter), the rapper vowed to go "death con 3 ON JEWISH PEOPLE." His rant led to widespread condemnation, including from Jewish groups and celebrities.
In the aftermath, West doubled down on hateful stereotypes and conspiracy theories about Jewish people in interviews and social media meltdowns.
High-profile partners like Balenciaga and Adidas quickly cut ties with the rapper, citing his "unacceptable, hateful and dangerous" comments. The sportswear giant said ending its Yeezy partnership would slash its 2022 profits by up to $246 million.
Kanye West faced allegations about behavior towards staff and job candidates
Beyond the antisemitism storm, West has also faced disturbing allegations about his behavior towards staff and job candidates. In November of 2022, former Yeezy and Adidas employees told Rolling Stone that West reportedly played porn in meetings, discussed explicit material in job interviews, and showed staff intimate photos and videos of Kim Kardashian.
Many expressed outrage at the environment West allegedly fostered. The reports only compounded public disdain for the rapper in the wake of his offensive rants. Between the back-to-back PR crises, venues understandably seem hesitant to work with the controversial artist.
Internet mocks Kanye West
As news of West's venue struggles circulated, the internet swiftly responded with a barrage of mocking reactions. "Kanye is totally freaking out," remarked one X user. Meanwhile, another user bluntly opined, "He should just retire atp his music is dead."
One user took a more defiant stance, stating, "Nah we not hearing none of that. self-proclaimed genius figure it out." Another individual commented on West's appearance, simply stating, "He look a mess."
nah we not hearing none of that. self proclaimed genius figure it out
— Mar❄️ (@platinumdisease) February 8, 2024
The concern for West's mental health was also palpable among internet users, with one expressing, "He needs help mentally too." A user also questioned the inevitability of West's current situation, asking, "What did he except to happen?"
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
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