Slovakia's Biggest Rap Festival Officially Canceled in the Aftermath of Kanye West Controversy

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Slovakia's largest rap music festival, Rubicon, has been canceled following protests from the local community, which included a petition with thousands of signatures denouncing the presence of Kanye West as the main star.

Through a statement posted on social media, Rubicon organizers have announced that the festival has been canceled due to media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and partners.

"Dear fans and partners, we would like to sincerely thank you for your patience and support. Due to various unforeseen conditions, including external pressures and logistical challenges, we regret to inform you that Rubicon Festival will not be held this year," read the organizer's statement, quoted from an Instagram statement, Monday, July 14.

"We understand that this news is disappointing, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. We are working hard to resolve this situation and will provide more information in the coming days, including details on the ticket refund process," he continued.

Although they did not directly mention the protests against Kanye West as the main cause of the cancellation, the organizers stated that the decision was made in a manner that was not easy.

"This is not the end of Rubicon. We didn't give up. We're already trying to come back stronger," he said.

At first, Rubicon organizers responded to the petition with a statement, noting that Kanye West had previously made unacceptable statements about the Jewish community and troubling historical references.

However, the statement also stated that the rapper has since deleted his comments, publicly apologized, and admitted that he needed time for self-reflection and professional help.

"We believe that festival-goers deserve to see one of the most influential artists of our time live-not because of his past, but because of his music," the statement continued. "We believe that festival-goers deserve to witness one of the most influential artists of our time live-not because of his past, but because of his music, his vision, and his power to inspire."

For your information, Kanye West's latest controversy occurred on May 8 this year - the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in the Second World War - when he released a song titled "Heil Hitler".

Earlier this year, the rapper was also charged with discrimination and accused of sending a "Hail Hitler" text message to a Jewish Yeezy employee.

Then, in February, the rapper deleted his Yeezy website, leaving only a white T-shirt with a large swastika on the chest available for sale.

The song also led to West being banned from traveling to Australia, and Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, confirmed that the rapper's visa had been revoked.