The artist formerly known as Kanye West has a lot of fans — but Florida Senator Rick Scott is not among them.
The politician is urging the Tampa Sports Authority to take another look at its approval of the rapper’s upcoming concerts at Raymond James Stadium due to the rapper being, in his words, a “vocal antisemite.”
In a letter to the authority's board of directors sent on Thursday (June 4), Scott criticized Ye over his history of antisemitic remarks and questioned whether the venue should host his scheduled shows on June 26 and 28.
Scott called Ye's past comments "vile and a slap in the face" to Florida's Jewish community, arguing that his rhetoric has contributed to the normalization of antisemitism.
"Kanye West's consistent antisemitic attacks are an affront to the values of the people of the Hillsborough community," Scott wrote. "He has openly praised Nazis, called himself one, and slandered Jews across the world."
The senator also pointedly referred to Raymond James Stadium as a “publicly owned venue,” saying public resources should not provide a platform for an artist with Ye's history of hateful statements.
"It is troubling that a stadium supported by taxpayer dollars would openly subsidize an event led by an artist known for pushing this dangerous, hateful rhetoric," Scott wrote, adding that Florida is home to one of the country's largest Jewish populations.
“No taxpayer dollars should be used to give a vocal antisemite a stage in Florida,” he continued.
According to budget documents for the stadium, Hillsborough County community investment tax dollars help cover debt payments on stadium bonds. The Tampa Sports Authority also has agreements with the city and county that allow public funding to help address certain operating and maintenance costs.
Per Bay News 9, the Tampa Sports Authority responded with a statement, which read in part: “As a public agency, we follow the principles of free speech in operating our venue, although we do not condone remarks or actions from any artists that are offensive and divisive.”
Some people raised concerns about the First Amendment implications of a government official pressuring a public venue over an artist's views. Aaron Terr of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said the letter raises free speech questions, arguing that taxpayer support for a venue does not give officials power to block performers because they disapprove of their speech.
Tampa City Council member Luis Viera also weighed in, saying Ye has the right to speak, but the community has a responsibility to respond.
"Free speech is not the issue with Kanye West having two concerts in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium — the community response is the issue and test," Viera wrote on Facebook.
The scrutiny comes as Ye continues to face backlash over past antisemitic remarks. He was recently barred from performing in the United Kingdom, and his overseas concerts have faced legal challenges and protests in other countries.
