Kanye West is under fire after Israel’s ambassador to Portugal publicly condemned his massive Algarve stadium concert, branding the performance as “hate speech” on August 6, 2026. Ambassador Dor Shapira issued a statement calling Ye’s 34,000-person show “a platform for antisemitic rhetoric” after Ye performed his controversial track “Heil Hitler.” The event drew roughly 34,000 fans at Estadio Algarve.
Despite the diplomatic backlash, organizers said the show sold out in 11 hours and was Ye’s largest European show of 2026. Ye performed a 2.5-hour set with a 40-person choir and no opening act. Portuguese media reported no incidents inside the venue, but protests gathered outside with 200 attendees.
This follows Ye’s SoFi Stadium residency breaking records as the highest-grossing rap residency ever at $34.2M. Ye has not responded to the ambassador’s comments, but his team said the Portugal leg will continue to Spain and Italy. The controversy has reignited debates over Ye’s ability to tour Europe after 2022 bans.
