U.S. Senator Rick Scott launched a petition and public campaign in early June 2026 calling on the Tampa Sports Authority to cancel rapper Kanye West’s two concerts scheduled for June 26 and 28 at Raymond James Stadium, citing West’s documented history of antisemitic remarks and arguing a publicly funded venue should not host him.
In a letter dated June 4, 2026, Scott argued that a public stadium should not give a platform to West, whose “consistent antisemitic attacks are an affront to the values of the Hillsborough community.” Scott detailed West’s past statements, noting that he “has openly praised Nazis, called himself one, and slandered Jews across the world.” Scott also referenced a Super Bowl ad West funded in 2025 that directed viewers to purchase merchandise featuring swastikas.
Scott’s campaign escalated on June 15, when he held a press conference at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg alongside Republican Senator Ashley Moody, Democrat Charlie Crist, and local Jewish leaders. “The Tampa Bay Sports Authority has a choice,” Scott said at the event. “They can either stand by and allow and ultimately say they’re not going to worry about antisemitism, or they can do the right thing.” Crist, attending the news conference, framed the issue as nonpartisan: “This is not political. This is not about right versus left, it’s right versus wrong.”
West, who now goes by the name Ye, has faced years of backlash for antisemitic behavior. In October 2022, he made a series of antisemitic comments on social media, prompting widespread condemnation from political figures across the aisle. In February 2025, he made additional offensive comments against the Jewish community and praised Hitler. However, in January 2026, West issued a public apology in a full-page Wall Street Journal ad, stating “I am not a Nazi or antisemite. I love Jewish people,” and attributing his past behavior to mental health struggles.
Despite the pressure, the Tampa Sports Authority refused to cancel the shows. In a statement, the authority said: “We condemn antisemitism from any source. However, we also respect free speech rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution, even when we disagree with that speech. In addition, no taxpayer money is being used for staging the Ye concerts. To suggest otherwise, is false.” First Amendment attorneys subsequently warned that canceling the concerts could expose the authority to legal challenges based on free speech protections.
The Florida Holocaust Museum responded to the controversy by announcing it would offer free admission during West’s Tampa concert dates. Michael Igel, a leader in Tampa Bay’s Jewish community, acknowledged the difficult position concert attendees faced, saying: “Liking an artist’s work doesn’t make you an antisemite. But I ask you, implore you to consider the unique power you hold in this moment.”
Sources
- Senator Rick Scott (.gov) — Official press release detailing Scott’s letter to Tampa Sports Authority demanding taxpayer dollars not be used to platform West, citing his antisemitic history including Nazi praise and swastika merchandise.
- WTSP — Coverage of the June 15 press conference at the Florida Holocaust Museum where Scott, Moody, Crist, and Jewish leaders called for cancellation; Tampa Sports Authority’s refusal statement citing free speech and denying taxpayer funding use.
- American Jewish Committee (AJC) — Documentation of West’s antisemitic remarks and their timeline.
- The Washington Post — Reporting on West’s January 2026 public apology in the Wall Street Journal and his attribution of past behavior to mental health struggles.
- NBC News — Coverage of West’s February 2025 offensive comments against the Jewish community and praise of Hitler.
