Overseasidol.com — On July 12, Kanye West’s long-awaited concert in Shanghai finally took place at the Shanghai Stadium, but not without controversy.
The show was scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., yet Ye did not appear on stage until around 8:10 p.m. Fans waiting in the rain grew frustrated, with chants for refunds echoing throughout the venue.
Roughly 40 minutes late, Ye took the stage—but fans were left underwhelmed.
There was no energetic opening, no elaborate stage design, and even the basic lighting was missing. Kanye simply began singing, which drew criticism from many in attendance.
On July 14, Ye addressed the backlash through a statement posted to his official Xiaohongshu account.
He explained that he had arrived at the venue well before 3 p.m. and denied being late.
Technical issues with the equipment delayed the show’s start. Out of respect for his fans, he decided to perform despite the subpar conditions.
Ye further revealed that equipment malfunctions forced him to stop the show three times and return backstage to troubleshoot.
Despite heavy rain, he continued performing to show his sincerity and respect for the audience.
The show concluded with Ye standing at center stage, drenched, as he bowed to thank the fans.
He also clarified that unauthorized music was played after he left the venue, which was not approved by him and left him shocked when informed later.
Ye expressed deep appreciation to his Chinese fans and reiterated his love for China.
He promised to return with an even better performance in the future to repay their support and trust.