TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) demanded on Monday that the Tampa Sports Authority cancel upcoming Kanye West concerts set to take place in Tampa at the end of the month.

“First off, it’s hard to believe we even have to do this,” Scott said. It’s inconceivable that we actually have to have an event like this to ask people that are elected and appointed to actually do the right thing.”

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West is set to perform two shows at Raymond James Stadium on Friday, June 26, and Sunday, June 28.

Earlier this month, Scott sent a letter to the Tampa Sports Authority, which manages the stadium, objecting to West’s performance. Since then, other state and local leaders have joined his protests

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“Kanye West has been an outspoken antisemite and has even called himself a Nazi,” Scott said.

The senator also claimed that taxpayer money is being used to support the concert and that the Tampa Sports Authority is accountable to the desires of the public.

“As leaders, we should do everything in our power to keep public money and resources out of this kind of event, and that’s exactly why we’re here today, condemning Kanye and demanding this concert be canceled,’ Scott said.

U.S Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) was also at the event today asking for the concerts not to occur and citing some of Ye’s controversial actions over the last year.

“Not 20 years ago, not 10 to 10 years ago, last year, West says, I love Hitler. I am a Nazi. Last year, he promoted an album which featured songs like, reportedly, Heil Hitler and Gas Chambers,” Moody said.

The Tampa Sports Authority refuted Scott’s claim that public money would be used for the shows.

“We condemn antisemitism from any source,” a TSA representative said. “However, we also respect free speech rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution, even when we disagree with that speech. In addition, no tax payer money is being used for staging the Ye concerts. To suggest otherwise, is false.”

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