Kanye West received $20 million for canceled St. Petersburg concerts and is unlikely to return it, Kommersant reports

Rapper Kanye West earned approximately $20 million for two concerts that were canceled in St. Petersburg, according to Russian business daily Kommersant. The money reportedly covers expenses such as staff payments, not just the artist's fee, one source explained. Another source suggested Kanye West would likely not return the funds, as his contract doesn't necessitate it.

Anna Subcheva, leader of the agency that organized the shows, said her company had not violated any laws. She noted that following the announcement of the concerts, her agency, herself, and West faced intense backlash from competitors supported by the media. When journalists asked if the concerts could have been rescheduled, Subcheva responded, "We'll see."

The scheduled performance at Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg was set for October 10 and 11. After the announcement, politicians and pro-war activists expressed strong disapproval of West's visit to Russia. The decision to cancel was even deliberated in the Kremlin. On the same day as the cancellation announcement, Kommersant reported that St. Petersburg police were investigating Say Agency for potential fraud.

The materials were sent to the Interior Ministry's central office in Moscow, which would determine if a criminal case should be opened. This investigation was initiated by a complaint from a St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly member who received complaints from ticket buyers. The organizers claimed to have sold over 100,000 tickets, priced between 9,000 and 160,000 rubles, within the first two days of sales. Once the concerts were canceled, they promised to refund the money.