Russian state media claims Kanye West is visiting Moscow

CNN
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Russian state media claimed on Sunday that American rapper and producer Kanye West was visiting Moscow, but CNN was unable to independently verify that he was actually there.

West, who now goes by Ye, arrived in Moscow for a private visit, said the creative team of Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy, who heads the creative team for the rapper’s fashion brand Yeezy, the state news agency TASS reported.

West himself reportedly posted a message on Russian social media site VK on Sunday saying, “Hello Moscow,” according to state media outlet RIA Novosti. However, his account on VK is not verified.

The visit – if it happens – would make West the first major American celebrity to visit Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

CNN has reached out to West’s manager for comment.

Several videos have appeared in Russian media purporting to show West and his security guards in Moscow, but he is not clearly identifiable in the footage.

Music producer Yana Rudkovskaya also posted a video that allegedly shows West’s back, as he enters a room followed by security.

She said: “According to my information, tomorrow he and the team will go to see the Luzhniki stadium.”

The music producer added that she “hopes” he will perform there one day but nothing is confirmed.

Luzhniki Stadium told Russian state media that there was no information about a Kanye West concert planned in the capital.

“The information that Kanye West might hold his concert in Moscow is hype and false information,” Eduard Ratnikov, general director of the TCI (Talent Concert International) agency, told TASS, the outlet also reported.