Florida senator Rick Scott is urging the Tampa Sports Authority to cancel Kanye West‘s upcoming headlining concerts at Raymond James Stadium. In a letter to the venue operator, published in full on his official website, Scott argued it would be a “slap in the face” to allow the musician’s performances to be funded by taxpayers given West’s history of “constant antisemitic attacks.”
“It is troubling that a stadium supported by taxpayer dollars would openly subsidize an event led by an artist known for pushing this dangerous, hateful rhetoric, especially with Florida having one of the largest Jewish populations in our country,” Scott wrote in the letter.
The senator points specifically to instances in which West “openly praised Nazis, called himself one, and slandered Jews across the world,” as well as a 2025 Super Bowl ad that directed viewers to a website selling a white T-shirt emblazoned with with a black swastika. “West’s remarks are vile and a slap in the face to our state’s Jewish community,” Scott said.
Scott also cited recent backlash to West’s returning to the stage as a reason for why Raymond James Stadium should not host him for his June 26 and June 29 performances. “West has been condemned by political figures across the political aisle. His outbursts and hate have helped to mainstream antisemitism,” Scott said. “He was recently barred from performing in the United Kingdom due to offensive antisemitic remarks.”
In April, Wireless Festival, the music festival set to take place in London’s Finsbury Park neighborhood, canceled this year’s event — which was to be headlined by West — after the country denied his visa. Shortly after, the rapper’s planned concert in Poland was also canceled in connection to his antisemitic comments and praising of Nazism.
In January, West published a full-page Wall Street Journal advertisement apologizing for years of antisemitic and other controversial comments. The rapper linked his outbursts to a long history of mental health struggles that left him in a “fractured state,” during which “I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it,” he said. “I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
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The apology has not allowed West to move forward with a clean slate. “I am confident that the Tampa Sports Authority will continue fostering a safe and inclusive community, especially for Jewish Floridians,” Scott wrote. “No taxpayer dollars should be used to give a vocal antisemite a stage in Florida, and I am sure that you will take appropriate action to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Still, the show may still go on. According to WFLA, the Tampa Sports Authority issued the following statement in response to Scott’s pleas: “We recognize the concerns and viewpoints being expressed about the upcoming events at Raymond James Stadium. 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.”
