Slovakian rap festival featuring Kanye West called off

A rap festival offering what organisers claimed would be the only performance in Europe this year by controversial American rapper Kanye West has been called off.

Organisers of the Rubicon festival in Slovakia announced that the event – planned for next weekend – had been cancelled "due to external pressure and logistical challenges".

Protest groups had organised a petition against West's appearance because of antisemitic and pro-Nazi statements he has made in recent years.

Meanwhile, Slovakian media revealed the venue was still an unharvested wheat field on the outskirts of Bratislava.

Slovak rap artists began pulling out, followed by one of the two organisers. Finally, West himself - now officially known as Ye - deleted an Instagram post announcing the concert.

The festival's Instagram account said: "It is with regret that we announce: Rubicon Festival will not take place this year.

"This was not an easy decision. Due to media pressure and the withdrawal of several artists and partners, we were unable to deliver the festival at the standard of quality you deserve."

West has effectively brought about his own cancellation in the mainstream music industry by posting a series of antisemitic tirades, declaring himself a Nazi, and releasing a song called Heil Hitler that glorified the Nazi leader.

Shortly after its release in May, West claimed he was "done with antisemitism" and released a new version of Heil Hitler titled Hallelujah. The new song replaced earlier references to Nazism with lyrics relating to Christianity.