Kanye West pushed back against claims that his July 12 concert at the Shanghai Stadium was a disaster, issuing a detailed statement that denied he was late and blamed technical issues for the rocky performance.
The show, which marked West’s first full concert in Shanghai since 2008, drew between 70,000 and 72,000 attendees, making it one of the largest Hip-Hop events in China’s history.
But the night didn’t go as planned. Complaints flooded Chinese social media, with users criticizing the sound quality, minimal stage production and abrupt ending.
Many in the crowd reportedly chanted for refunds after paying more than $400 for tickets.
Kanye West’s team responded to the backlash by releasing a statement disputing several of the claims that were circulating.
“To ensure the quality of the performance, Ye arrived at the stadium before 3:00 P.M. on July 12 (with surveillance footage available as evidence),” the statement read. “The concert was originally scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM, but due to on-site equipment issues, troubleshooting and adjustments continued until 8:00 PM and still failed to reach optimal condition.”
Despite the technical problems, Kanye decided to press on.
“Out of respect for the audience’s passion and anticipation, Ye made the decision to go on stage and perform despite the imperfect setup,” the statement continued. “Therefore, claims of Ye being late are entirely untrue.”
Throughout the performance, Kanye West was forced to pause three times due to equipment malfunctions. According to his team, he returned backstage each time to coordinate with staff and quickly resumed the set.
“Even in the midst of heavy rain, Ye insisted on returning to the stage promptly to continue performing — solely to offer the audience and fans his utmost sincerity and respect.”
After finishing the final song, Kanye West stood alone in the rain, bowed and exited the stage. Ten minutes later, an unauthorized track was played at the venue, which his team said he had no knowledge of.
“Ye was completely unaware of this and was shocked to learn of it,” the statement said. The rapper closed the statement with a message to his supporters.
“I love China. I love my Chinese fans. Your support is my greatest motivation. I promise to return your trust and love with even more perfect performances in the future!” Kanye said.
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