Kanye West has made a surprising and unannounced visit to Russia, amidst rumors that he may put on a surprise show.
Speculation about a meeting between Kanye and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been circulating for years, and it seems the pair might finally sit down together in the coming days.
Earlier today, Kanye arrived in Moscow via private jet, as reported by Russian state media. He announced his arrival on VK, a Russian social media platform, with a message that read “Hello Moscow” in Russian.
Footage shows Kanye, dressed in a white outfit with a black patterned bandanna and sunglasses, getting out of a black car surrounded by security.
The reason for his visit, according to local reports, is to celebrate the 40th birthday of Russian designer Gosha Rubchinsky.
Other videos show the rapper arriving at a five-star hotel near the Kremlin and enjoying a ride on the Moscow subway. Reports state he is staying in the £10,150-a-night presidential suite of the Four Seasons Hotel Moscow, which boasts a stunning view of St Basil’s Cathedral.
In another clip, Kanye is seen taking in the sights of Moscow’s Red Square with Rubchinsky. He allegedly viewed the Kremlin and Red Square from a platform on the roof of the GUM department store.
Kanye was reportedly accompanied by his wife, Bianca Censori, 29, although she has not been seen in public during the trip.
Kanye’s visit is unexpected as most Western celebrities have avoided Moscow since the start of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.
Renowned Russian producer Yana Rudkovskaya excitedly announced Kanye’s arrival, saying, “Kanye West is already in Moscow! This is super news! Staying in the very heart of the capital! Fingers crossed for the show at Luzhniki! [stadium].”
Despite hopes for a stadium performance, Kremlin insiders quickly denied any immediate plans for a concert. Luzhniki Stadium also informed state media that it has no information about any upcoming Ye concerts, according to NDTV News.
Kanye has faced difficulties securing paid performances recently due to several controversies. Promoters in Madrid, Berlin, Cologne, and Munich have all declined to host shows for him.
A music insider mentioned that it would be very challenging for Kanye to perform in Europe, despite his strong fanbase, because of his tarnished reputation. Similar issues have arisen in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
“His reputation and the controversies in the last few years are the main reason for this,” the source told The U.S. Sun. “Now almost no companies that manage arenas or stadiums want to allow him to do shows on their venues.”
However, a top music industry insider revealed that Kanye has been pushing to stage shows in Russia. The source, who has worked on tours with U2, Madonna, and Beyoncé, suggests that Kanye might try to get close to Putin to improve his chances of performing.
Putin’s conservative allies have previously expressed disapproval of Kanye and his wife, Bianca Censori. In May, a controversy erupted over reports that Kanye might perform at Luzhniki Stadium, with Ekaterina Mizulina, a staunch supporter of Putin, vehemently opposing the idea.
Mizulina criticized Kanye and his often unconventionally dressed wife, saying, “We don’t need any Kanye West with his naked woman. We have enough of our own ‘naked’ parties.”
Censori, who became known for her bold fashion choices, has already made enemies worldwide. The 29-year-old Australian architectural designer, who worked for Kanye’s Yeezy brand before they began dating after his public divorce from Kim Kardashian, has been seen wearing daring outfits, including walking barefoot through a casino wearing only a pillow and donning a see-through raincoat on another occasion.
Mizulina also referenced Russia’s recent crackdown on public indecency, including banning the annual Russian sex doll race, known as the Bubble Baba Challenge, due to its “negative” global reaction. The event, where participants navigate rapids with inflatable sex dolls, was prohibited by Putin after attracting 471 participants last year.
