Kanye West’s much-anticipated concert in Shanghai faced major disruptions on Monday night, leading to frustration among thousands of fans. The rapper, also known as Ye, arrived on stage 40 minutes late, prompting the crowd to demand their money back.
The event, held at Shanghai Stadium, attracted around 72,000 people. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the delay was caused by technical issues and heavy rain that poured through the stadium’s open roof, soaking both the stage and audience before the show began.
Fans grew restless as the scheduled start time passed. By 7:30 p.m. local time, chants for refunds echoed through the stadium. Kanye West eventually took the stage at 8:10 p.m., wearing black leather pants and a grey hoodie emblazoned with the word “China.”
The performance featured elements similar to his past “Donda” shows, including smoke effects and large projections, though some fans noted that the visuals were less elaborate than usual.
Following the concert, debate erupted across Chinese social media. Some supporters defended Kanye West, blaming the delay on the weather, while others accused him of disrespecting fans or using China as a way to rebuild his career after recent controversies in the West.
Kanye West has faced multiple scandals this year. In May, he released a song titled “Heil Hitler“ on the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II, drawing widespread criticism.
Earlier, he was accused of discrimination against Jewish employees at his Yeezy brand and was criticized for selling merchandise featuring a swastika. These incidents led to travel bans, including the cancellation of his Australian visa.
His appearance at the Shanghai concert comes shortly after Slovakia’s largest rap festival, Rubicon, was canceled due to protests against his scheduled performance there.
