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Kanye West has once again found himself at the centre of controversy, after fans at his Shanghai concert branded it the “worst gig ever” and demanded refunds over his late arrival.
The rapper and fashion mogul, who now goes by the name Ye, performed at the massive Shanghai Stadium on Friday night to a sold-out crowd of around 70,000 people. But what was meant to be a triumphant night quickly descended into frustration as heavy rain delayed the start and left the open-air audience drenched.
While Ye was scheduled to take the stage at 7:30pm, local media reports say he did not appear until around 8:10pm, nearly 40 minutes late. The delay sparked anger among fans already braving the downpour, with sections of the restless crowd audibly chanting “refund” as they waited for the star to appear.
Even after the show got underway, social media posts from fans painted a bleak picture. One concertgoer posted on Weibo: “Shanghai consumers DO NOT PLAY. Massive crowd was shouting REFUND after Ye was late 40 minutes to his concert.”
Another fan wrote: “It was the worst concert I’ve ever been to. We were soaked, freezing, and he acted like nothing happened.”
Despite the backlash, Ye appeared to gloss over the criticism entirely. He later posted to X, thanking the audience and even the Chinese government for the opportunity.
“Thank you to my fans in China and the Chinese government. The energy was amazing. Love all of you forever. Can’t wait till the next show,” he wrote.
The post did little to quell the complaints online, with some accusing the rapper of disrespecting his fans by failing to acknowledge the late start or the miserable conditions in the stadium.
Kanye’s Shanghai appearance was part of his international return to live performance following months of silence after his controversial behaviour in 2023 and the release of his latest album earlier this year. While his fanbase in China remains strong, Friday’s debacle has clearly left a sour taste for many attendees.
So far, no official statement has been issued by Kanye’s team addressing the delays or the refund demands.
Whether this incident will impact the rest of Ye’s tour schedule remains to be seen. But judging by the backlash online, the rapper may face tougher crowds unless he can turn things around quickly.
