Jun 11, 2026 - News

Ye's Tampa stop faces pushback

Yacob Reyes

Ye performs on stage at the GelreDome venue in Arnhem, eastern Netherlands, on June 6. — Ye performs onstage at the GelreDome in Arnhem, the Netherlands, on June 6. Photo: Ramon Van Flymen via Getty Images

Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is set to perform in Tampa this month for the first time in nearly a decade — but not everyone is rolling out the welcome wagon.

Why it matters: Ye's racist and antisemitic rants, for which he has apologized, have cost him support from many fans, and his upcoming shows have rankled Tampa Bay's Jewish community and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

Driving the news: Last week, Scott published a letter to the Tampa Sports Authority, which manages Raymond James Stadium, describing the rapper's past remarks as "an affront to the values" of Hillsborough County.

"I urge you to carefully review this decision, given the fact that taxpayer dollars are helping the show go on," he added.
The Tampa Sports Authority replied that, as a public agency, it adheres to "the principles of free speech in operating" its venue, but it does not endorse offensive remarks or actions by any artists, per the Tampa Bay Times.

The latest: The Florida Holocaust Museum and the Tampa Jewish Federation released statements this week expressing disappointment with the Sports Authority's decision.

"West's antisemitic behavior is not debatable. He denigrated Jews and glorified the Holocaust for years," the museum said. "He does not belong in our community."
The museum announced that it would provide free admission from June 26 through June 28, coinciding with Ye's concerts in Tampa.

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Ye's Tampa stop faces pushback

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