TIRANA — Albania’s prime minister is standing behind his government’s choice to spend €4 million — roughly $4.56 million — to host a concert by American rapper Kanye West, as public anger over the decision adds fuel to weeks of ongoing street protests and growing calls for him to step down.
Kanye West, who also goes by the name YE, has been barred from performing in several European nations this summer after making statements that included praise for Adolf Hitler and using imagery associated with the Nazi regime.
The concert is set for July 11 at a temporary stadium built specifically for the event, located just outside the Albanian capital of Tirana.
Prime Minister Edi Rama took to Facebook to explain the expenditure, writing: “We allocated €4 million at the last minute to avoid embarrassing Albania in the eyes of nearly 25,000 foreign visitors from 80 countries who had already purchased tickets to see Kanye West, while many others were wary that the concert might be cancelled.”
Rama also argued the event is projected to bring in at least €100 million in economic benefit to the country, citing a significant spike in lodging reservations tied to the concert dates.
The prime minister’s Facebook post quickly drew a wave of critical responses from the public. “Albania is disgraced when it welcomes a singer who admires Hitler,” wrote one commenter. Another added simply: “Shame, not with my money!”
Demonstrations have been held daily in Tirana for more than a month, originally triggered by a proposed luxury resort connected to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Protesters have since expanded their grievances to include other development projects near environmentally protected coastal areas, and have called on Rama to resign over corruption allegations — charges his government rejects.
