Scott Says No, No, No to Ye, Ye, Ye
Senator Rick Scott is pressuring the Tampa Sports Authority to rethink two upcoming Kanye concerts at Raymond James Stadium. He feels that a taxpayer-supported venue should not give the rapper a stage after years of antisemitic remarks.
In a letter Thursday to the Tampa Sports Authority, Scott called Ye a “vocal antisemite” and said his comments are “vile” and a “slap in the face” to Florida’s Jewish community.
“Kanye West’s consistent antisemitic attacks are an affront to the values of the people of the Hillsborough community,” Scott wrote.
Scott pointed to Ye praising Nazis, calling himself one, and directing people to merchandise featuring swastikas. He urged the Tampa Sports Authority to review the shows and make sure no taxpayer dollars support them.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is scheduled to perform at Raymond James Stadium on June 26th and June 28th. The two shows are his only Florida performances.
Scott Doing All He Can to Stop the Shows
The Tampa shows stand out because Raymond James Stadium is publicly owned and managed by the Tampa Sports Authority, which is a public agency. That makes the issue more complicated than a private venue deciding whether to host an artist.
Scott is arguing that taxpayers’ dollars should not support Ye’s performances. The Tampa Sports Authority, meanwhile, is pointing to free speech principles in its role while operating a public venue.
They told the Tampa Bay Times that it recognizes the concerns being raised about the upcoming events.
“As a public agency, we follow the principles of free speech in operating our venue, although we do not condone remarks or actions from any artists that are offensive and divisive,” the sports authority said, according to the Times.
The Ye Live Concert Tour is International
As of June 2026, Ye has already performed several concert dates on his 2026 live tour. He recently performed a large stadium show in Istanbul on May 30 and is scheduled to perform in the Netherlands this weekend, on June 6th and June 8th. There are additional dates planned later this summer in Europe and the United States.
The tour is promoted as the “Ye Live Concert Tour”, supporting Ye’s album Bully.
Based on currently available tour announcements, ticketing pages, and promoter information, here are the dates that have been announced so far, including shows that have already taken place:
| Date | City | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Mexico City, Mexico | Various reports cite a Mexico City return show | Completed |
| Apr. 1, 2026 | Inglewood, California | SoFi Stadium | Completed |
| Apr. 3, 2026 | Inglewood, California | SoFi Stadium | Completed |
| May 30, 2026 | Istanbul, Turkey | Atatürk Olympic Stadium | Completed |
| Jun. 6, 2026 | Arnhem, Netherlands | GelreDome | Scheduled/occurring now |
| Jun. 8, 2026 | Arnhem, Netherlands | GelreDome | Scheduled |
| Jun. 12, 2026 | Tbilisi, Georgia | Dinamo Arena | Scheduled |
| Jun. 26, 2026 | Tampa, Florida | Raymond James Stadium | Scheduled |
| Jun. 28, 2026 | Tampa, Florida | Raymond James Stadium | Scheduled |
| Jul. 10, 2026 | Albania (festival appearance) | Venue announcements vary | Scheduled |
| Jul. 18, 2026 | Reggio Emilia, Italy | RCF Arena | Announced, though reports indicate uncertainty/cancellation risk |
| Jul. 30, 2026 | Madrid, Spain | Riyadh Air Metropolitano | Scheduled |
| Aug. 7, 2026 | Portugal (Faro/Algarve area) | Estádio Algarve | Scheduled |
Several other European dates were announced earlier in the year but were subsequently postponed, blocked, or canceled, including:
- Marseille, France
- Chorzów, Poland
- Switzerland dates are under discussion
- Wireless Festival appearance in London, England (canceled)
Ye has faced controversy surrounding some tour stops. Several European concerts have been canceled or blocked by venues and governments, while other shows have gone ahead. But there have been huge successes as well. His recent performance in Turkey reportedly drew more than 100,000 attendees.
But with the success has also come the backlash. Ye’s comments have led to major backlash across the entertainment industry and overseas.
The Associated Press reported Ye was barred from entering the U.K. in April over his remarks. So much so that they cancelled the Wireless Festival because he couldn’t perform. Shows in Italy and Poland were also scrapped.
In the Netherlands, however, a judge allowed two Ye concerts to move forward this week. A Jewish organization had tried to block the shows, arguing Ye should be banned for voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler and selling T-shirts featuring swastikas.
According to the AP, the Amsterdam District Court ruled there were no grounds to bar Ye from performing because there were “no indications” his presence would create concrete public order dangers.
Ye Apologizes
According to the AP, Ye apologized in January through a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal. He attributed his behavior to bipolar disorder and described a manic episode that he said damaged his life. Unfortunately, his apology did not end the backlash.
Scott said Ye’s comments helped mainstream antisemitism and said taxpayer dollars should not be used to support his Tampa shows.
“I am confident that the Tampa Sports Authority will continue fostering a safe and inclusive community, especially for Jewish Floridians,” Scott wrote.
As of now, (the Tampa based) Raymond James Stadium’s official event page still lists Ye’s concerts on June 26th and June 28th. Scott’s letter does not cancel the shows. But it does put public pressure on the Tampa Sports Authority with about three weeks to go before the first concert.
We will see what happens as the concert dates approach. Let us at SFL.media know how you feel about Ye and whether you want him to perform in Tampa.
