Controversial American rapper Ye earned approximately $20 million from two canceled concerts in St. Petersburg and is unlikely to return the funds, the business newspaper Kommersant reported Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Originally scheduled for Oct. 10-11 at Gazprom Arena, Ye’s shows were canceled late last month following weeks of venue disputes and backlash from conservative Russian politicians over his past public support of Nazism.
One source told Kommersant that Ye’s $20 million performance fee includes budget allocations for his staff. Another said Ye is unlikely to return the money because his contracts typically do not contain these types of clauses.
State media previously estimated Ye’s performance fee, excluding the musician’s rider and other expenses, at 1 billion rubles ($11.7 million).
Say Agency, the Moscow-based event organizer, announced it would begin refunding tickets next Monday, Oct. 12.
The first court hearings of at least nine civil lawsuits against Say Agency and ticket operator Intickets are scheduled to begin early next month.
Russian law enforcement agencies have launched a preliminary investigation into Say Agency over possible fraud, Kommersant reported.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, previously visited Moscow in 2024 to celebrate the birthday of fashion designer and collaborator Gosha Rubchinskiy. Rumors of a performance at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium circulated at the time.
The rapper has drawn controversy in recent years for his antisemitic remarks. He has previously voiced admiration for Adolf Hitler, and in May 2025, he released a song called “Heil Hitler.”
Ye has faced concert cancellations and performance bans in several European countries this year following his comments.
Ye apologized for his remarks in January, attributing them to his undiagnosed brain injury and untreated bipolar disorder.
Reuters contributed reporting.
