Kanye West’s Istanbul concert sets new world attendance record

A concert by American rapper Kanye West in Istanbul has reportedly set a new world attendance record. The performance attracted 118,000 spectators from around the world, a figure the artist announced himself from the stage, reports «24KZ».

The show took place at Atatürk Olympic Stadium and marked the opening of the rapper’s European tour. Analysts attribute the massive turnout largely to the fact that Kanye West had not performed outside the United States for an extended period.

In previous years, several European countries cancelled the artist’s scheduled performances following a series of controversial antisemitic remarks. The United Kingdom also banned the rapper from entering the country.

Amid a prolonged reputational crisis, several leading global brands terminated their partnerships with the performer, while his social media accounts were repeatedly suspended. In January, West purchased advertising space in The Wall Street Journal to issue a public apology for his behavior. He attributed his past actions to health-related issues.