“Worst concert I’ve ever been to”: Fans rage as Kanye West’s Shanghai show starts late and suffers major glitches

Kanye West returned to the stage over the weekend with a concert in Shanghai, his first full-length show in nearly a year. But his July 12 performance, held at the 70,000-capacity Shanghai Stadium, quickly stirred frustration among attendees due to delays, sound issues, and an unwonted unveiling.

In a report obtained by The Global Times, Kanye West — or Ye — emerged onstage more than 40 minutes late. During the delay, the crowd reportedly began chanting for a refund.

Apart from the delay, attendees also experienced technical glitches as the DJ restarted tracks. The ongoing rain may have also contributed to difficulties with staging and sound.

The production reportedly had sparse visuals and lighting, prompting some concertgoers to share their disappointment on social media.

One fan commented: So I’ve been a fan of Kanye West since I was a teen. MBDTF opened my ears to the sonics in music. Was hard to get tix for him in Shanghai but got it. Was hyped af. Couldn’t even sleep night before. But. Worst concert I’ve ever been to. @kanyewest u can be better,” @Fabian_Lemuel said.

Concertgoers sound off after Kanye West’s rocky Shanghai show

Following Kanye West’s reported troubled Shanghai concert, a wave of criticism online quickly ignited, with many attendees voicing their dissatisfaction across X (formerly Twitter).

"This is the most pathetic excuse of a rapper I've ever seen. His music is infantile and absolute sh*t. A child could write better lyrics. how this man rose to stardom is absolutely beyond me," @DrewMadeNew1 posted.

“Shanghai consumers DO NOT PLAY. Massive crowd was shouting REFUND after Ye was late 40 minutes to his concert,” @DetroitShowtyme wrote.

“这下侃爷真成沪Ye了. The REAL 夜上海 finally showed up 40 minutes late to his show in SHANGHAI. For those familiar with the strict rules in CHINA, this time WILL not be added back. They will cut his show precisely according to schedule,” they added.

"The reason why the people in that stadium are so vocal, is because 99% of the people in the city of Shanghai have been raised with discipline and respect for time. They also paid more for those Kanye tickets possibly than anywhere else in the world, certainly the most in East Asia, Tickets started at $137 to $375 which still very expensive for the local cost of living and far lower monthly salary for the average worker, much less for the broke students," they continued.

“For the encore, he disappeared for over 20 minutes at one point as tracks like Wolves just played out with him nowhere in sight. I could have just played your music at home man. Came to see u perform????” @Fabian_Lemuel commented.

“Stage set-up was terrible. I paid $260 for my seat and though they were reasonably close, he stayed in the circle so nobody could actually see him closely even if you were vip. Also he wore a mask the entire show. People came to see u my guy! @kanyewest,” they further shared.

Kanye West has struggled to secure performances in recent years. Aside from this show and an appearance in South Korea, most international venues have distanced themselves from the artist following ongoing controversies tied to his antisemitic remarks and public behavior.

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Earlier this year, Kanye West also faced a lawsuit from a former Yeezy employee, who has accused him of discrimination and claimed he had texted “H*il H**ler” during their professional exchanges.

Ye’s next performance is scheduled for July 26 in Incheon, South Korea.

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