A group of Florida officials gathered in the Tampa Bay area to publicly oppose a planned concert by Kanye West at Raymond James Stadium, framing their stand as a united front against giving antisemitism any platform in the region. The officials stressed that the appearance was meant to be bigger than party politics, with figures from both sides of the aisle standing together at the event to voice the same concern.
At the center of their objection is the fact that Raymond James Stadium is a publicly funded venue. The officials argued that because taxpayer money is involved, the public should have a say in what takes place there. They rejected the notion that a public venue is obligated to host every act, insisting that there is no law requiring a taxpayer funded site to provide a stage for someone who promotes hatred.
Senator Rick Scott, who helped organize the gathering, said the issue came down to responsibility over how public money is used. He argued that when officials handle taxpayer wealth, they bear responsibility for where that money goes and what it supports. In his words, a publicly funded body should not be using tax dollars to fund someone who has called himself a Nazi and praised Adolf Hitler.
The officials pointed to Kanye West's recent record to explain their stance. They described him as an outspoken antisemite who has referred to himself as a Nazi. They said that last year he promoted an album that featured songs reportedly titled in reference to Hitler and to gas chambers, and that he attempted to run a Super Bowl advertisement redirecting users to a website selling swastika shirts.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said the controversy raised serious questions about how the booking was evaluated, approved and prioritized by the body overseeing the venue. She recounted that when concerns were first raised, the response pointed to free speech and contractual obligations, which she characterized as hiding behind those arguments rather than explaining how the decision was made. She said the focus now is on investigating how it happened and holding those responsible accountable.
The officials placed the dispute in the broader context of antisemitism in the United States, noting that the country is just over two years removed from the October 7 attacks and has seen a surge in incidents targeting Jewish Americans, including in Florida. They highlighted the state's large Jewish population, particularly in areas such as Palm Beach, Miami and Tampa, and several speakers framed the fight against antisemitism as an obligation that extends beyond any single community.