Florida senator Rick Scott has asked the Tampa Sports Authority to cancel Kanye West's planned concerts at Raymond James Stadium. In a letter, Scott cited the artist's history of antisemitic remarks and argued against using taxpayer funds for the events. The concerts are scheduled for June 26 and June 29.
Scott wrote that hosting the shows would be a “slap in the face” to the state's Jewish community. He referenced West's past comments praising Nazis, a 2025 Super Bowl advertisement promoting a swastika T-shirt, and recent performance bans in the United Kingdom and Poland. The senator noted West's January apology published in The Wall Street Journal, in which the artist linked his actions to mental health issues and stated he is “not a Nazi or an antisemite.” Scott maintained that the apology does not change his position. The Tampa Sports Authority responded by acknowledging concerns while emphasizing its commitment to free speech principles at the publicly funded venue. It stated that it does not condone offensive remarks but operates under those guidelines.
