FL Holocaust Museum Offers Free Admission During Kanye West’s Tampa Concerts

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg is offering free admission June 26-28 to align with Kanye West’s upcoming Tampa concerts.

The rapper, who now goes by Ye, is performing on those dates at Raymond James Stadium. He’s received backlash from local leaders and Jewish organizations, and has been accused of making antisemitic comments.

In a June 4 letter, Florida Sen. Rick Scott urged the Tampa Sports Authority, which manages the publicly-owned stadium, to cancel West’s shows at the venue because his “consistent antisemitic attacks are an affront to the values of the people of the Hillsborough community.”

The senator wrote, “He has openly praised Nazis, called himself one, and slandered Jews across the world. Kanye West also funded a Superbowl [sic] ad in 2025 that directed viewers to purchase merchandise featuring swastikas.”

Scott called the performer’s comments “vile and a slap in the face to our state’s Jewish community.”

He added, “It is troubling that a stadium supported by taxpayer dollars would openly subsidize an event led by an artist known for pushing this dangerous, hateful rhetoric, especially with Florida having one of the largest Jewish populations in our country.”

The TSA defended West’s upcoming concerts at the stadium, citing free speech.

“We recognize the concerns and viewpoints being expressed about the upcoming events at Raymond James Stadium. As a public agency, we follow the principles of free speech in operating our venue, although we do not condone remarks or actions from any artists that are offensive and divisive,” the Tampa Sports Authority told the Florida Phoenix in an email.

Tampa Bay-area Jewish leaders are also speaking out against the decision to host West at Raymond James.

The Tampa Jewish Federation, which oversees and operates the Shanna and Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center in South Tampa, told WMNF and Creative Loafing that it was “deeply disappointed and disturbed” that TSA booked West at the stadium.

“As a public agency, the TSA is accountable not only to its board of directors, but also to every person living in the region, including the Jewish residents,” TJF said in a statement. “By booking Ye, the TSA lent institutional credibility to an individual who has caused genuine fear and anxiety to Jews across the country; from Holocaust survivors who hoped and prayed this type of virulent Jew hate would be consigned to the history books, to students of all ages, many who now think twice about wearing symbols of their Judaism such as Jewish stars or yarmulkes because they’re fearful of being harassed or even attacked.”

The Florida Holocaust Museum also called out the rapper for his comments.

“West’s antisemitic behavior is not debatable. He denigrated Jews and glorified the Holocaust for years,” the museum said in his statement. “In his music, rhetoric, and merchandise he sends both overt and subtle messages of support of the Nazi mindset. Feigned apologies for this display have lacked sincerity and evidenced his commitment to one thing: his own financial gain at the cost of humanity. He does not belong in our community.”

The museum added, “When an antisemitic public figure sells out arenas like Raymond James Stadium, it sends a message that anti-Jewish bigotry can be accepted or overlooked for the sake of something as simple as a concert. That’s never a good message to send, but it’s a particularly bad one amidst a historic spate of antisemitic activity that often involves violence.”

In response to West’s concerts, the museum is offering free admission to everyone on his concert dates.

“Sometimes, the best way to fight antisemitism is by refusing to support it – that is, not doing something. Today, The Florida Holocaust Museum reminds all of us that we have an opportunity right here and now to say, ‘No. Not in my backyard,’” the museum said. “Our organization will continue to work toward a time when society will consider antisemitism a disqualifying trait. Until then, we will keep supporting the Jewish community as we educate about how to fight antisemitism, and why that fight matters.”