ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Florida Senator Rick Scott is pushing back against upcoming concerts to be performed by the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
Scott has described past antisemitic remarks from Ye as ”vile and a slap in the face” to the Jewish community. Now, he’s calling on the Tampa Sports Authority to review Ye’s upcoming shows at Raymond James Stadium on June 26 and 28.
Scott will be holding a press conference with Jewish leaders condemning hate later this morning at the Florida Holocaust Museum.
They are asking that no public funds be used to support Ye’s concerts at a taxpayer-supported venue. This press conference is following Scott’s letter to the Tampa Sports Authority.
In that letter, Scott said he thinks it’s wrong that taxpayer money could potentially be used to subsidize these upcoming shows. The Tampa Sports Authority is the public agency that manages Raymond James Stadium and it does receive funding from both the city and county.
According to its budget documents, TSA requested $3.6-million combined from the city and Hillsborough County for its operations and management for this fiscal year. This is in addition to a $4.8-million capital request.
The authority has said it does not support Ye’s past comments, but there are other factors to take into account such as the First Amendment.
Scott has described past antisemitic remarks from Ye, pictured here, as ”vile and a slap in the face” to the Jewish community. Now, he’s calling on the Tampa Sports Authority to review Ye’s upcoming shows at Raymond James Stadium on June 26 and 28. (AP Photo)
Additional reactions earlier this month regarding the upcoming shows:
“The taxes are funding a venue that hosts a variety of art and entertainment— not just that which meets government officials’ approval,” said Aaron Terr, Director of Public Advocacy for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. “So, the fact that a venue is supported by taxpayer dollars doesn’t mean that officials get to ban performers based on disapproval of their views.”
“While certainly there are freedom of speech issues that are involved, I’m not sure it’s solely based on issues of freedom of speech that the decision was made,” said Jonathan Ellis, Chair for the Tampa Jewish Community Relations Council.
Meanwhile, Tampa City Council member Luis Viera said in a Facebook post that while Ye has the right to say what he wants the residents of Tampa also have the right to respond.
“Free speech is not the issue with Kanye West having two concerts in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium,” the post said. “The community response is the issue and test. He has a right to his speech but the community has a moral duty to respond.”
U.S. Senator Ashley Moody, the Chair of the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism Leo Terrell, and other state and local officials will be in attendance for today’s press conference.
Ye was recently barred from performing in the U.K. because of past comments.
A Jewish organization in the Netherlands filed an emergency lawsuit asking that he be barred from performing because of his past remarks. But a court ruled there was nothing to suggest his concerts would lead to danger to public order, allowing his performances to go on as scheduled.