Kanye West, legally known as Ye, visited Moscow on June 29 to celebrate the 40th birthday of his friend and Russian fashion designer Gosha Rubchinsky, who heads West's Yeezy brand.
Western artists have halted performances in Russia since the Ukraine invasion due to sanctions and travel restrictions, making Ye potentially the first major American celebrity to visit Moscow since the invasion.
During his visit, West reportedly took a ride on a luxury yacht along the Moskva River, and went shopping. He stayed at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel near the Kremlin, where he was mobbed by fans. He was spotted in the Moscow subway and on VK, Russia's social media platform, greeting fans.
After his departure for Germany on July 1, reports suggested at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The stadium denied such claims, and Kremlin sources stated there were no immediate plans for a performance.
West's visit to Moscow has drawn criticism, as possibly playing a part in the state's propaganda efforts.
Known for controversial statements, West praised Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past. In a podcast, he referred to himself as a "Young Putin."
This was not West's first visit to Moscow, as he had previously met with Rubchinsky in 2016 during his last trip.
The artist has faced difficulties booking paid gigs in Europe following controversies, and promoters in several cities have declined to host his shows. Fans are waiting for updates on West's music projects like Vultures 2.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Newsweek, CNN, The Moscow Times, Yahoo, Times of Israel, TASS, Pravda, Tribune, Watauga Democrat, La Voce di New York, News.am, Hindustan Times, The Jakarta Post, Daily Mail, Times of India, Industries News, Nairaland, Naija247news, Firstpost, Inquirer, Mirror, Metro, Marca