Western musicians have mostly avoided Russia since the start of the offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, which led to a barrage of sanctions against Moscow and a serious crisis in relations with the West.
“Kanye West is in Moscow! This is excellent news, he is in the heart of the capital,” announced producer Yana Roudkovskaïa, quoted by the public press agency Tass.
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Russian media and cultural figure Ksenia Sobchak posted a short video on Telegram, which she claims shows the American rapper on the roof of the famous GUM shopping mall, looking out over Red Square.
According to her, Kanye West is in Moscow to “celebrate the fortieth birthday of his friend Gosha Rubchinskiy”, a popular Russian stylist.
A crowd of around a hundred fans was present despite the heat in front of the Four Seasons hotel, in the center of Moscow, to hope to see the rapper, noted an AFP journalist.
“Everyone is waiting for Kanye West, and everyone is hoping to get selfies or autographs,” said Alexander, an 18-year-old Russian, who calls the rapper a “legend.”
Kanye West, who has previously expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, sparked controversy at home after he praised Adolf Hitler in particular.
The artist, also known for his fashion brand Yeezy, has become a show business pariah since he made a string of anti-Semitic remarks in 2022. Several brands including Adidas, Gap and Balenciaga have cut ties with him.
