Mobile billboards protesting American rapper Ye (Kanye West) circled the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Friday, after Republican Senator Rick Scott pushed to have the performer’s concerts there canceled on account of Ye’s history of antisemitism.
“There’s no place for antisemitism in Florida, especially at the expense of the taxpayer,” a petition circulated by Scott read.
“As leaders, we should do everything in our power to keep public money and resources out of this kind of event, and that’s why these concerts should not take place at Raymond James Stadium or any other publicly supported venue in the State of Florida.”
The Tampa Sports Authority denied that taxpayer money was being used to stage the concerts, and said that while it condemns antisemitism, it also respects Ye’s free speech rights.
In a post on X/Twitter about the concert, Scott said that he had been informed that Ye would not be permitted to sell Nazi-related merchandise, sing his song “Heil Hitler,” or display any images or videos glorifying or promoting Nazism.
I was just informed that despite Kanye performing tonight, there has been a commitment to not sell Nazi-related merchandise inside or outside of Raymond James Stadium; not perform the song “Heil Hitler” or any other content that constitutes hate speech; not display images or…
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) June 26, 2026
“It’s deeply concerning there even has to be a commitment like this made by a performer in a publicly funded facility,” he wrote.
Scott, Holocaust survivors, protest Ye’s concerts
Earlier this month, Scott hosted a press conference alongside Holocaust survivors, Jewish leaders, and other politicians, demanding that Ye‘s performances not be tolerated in Tampa.
““People say, ‘Oh, it’s just a concert. Oh, the Tampa Bay Sports Authority is going to make some money, let people have their fun,’” Scott said. ““Some of the worst sins in human history begin with the words, ‘I was just’: ‘I was just going to a concert with my friends,’ ‘I was just trying to make money,’ ‘I was just following orders.’ No, you can’t do that. None of us should be let off the hook for hatred and antisemitism.”
