Kanye West has reportedly lost a $20 million deal to perform two shows at the Tokyo Dome in May following a controversial incident at the 2025 Grammys involving his wife, Bianca Censori.
Sources suggest that Censori’s revealing outfit and West’s encouragement of her actions have been met with disapproval in Japan, a country with a growing MeToo movement and increasing awareness of women’s rights.
“What he did is being seen as an act of coercive control, which is utterly unacceptable. He has completely culturally misjudged Japan,” a source told the Daily Mail.
The incident has also drawn criticism from West’s American colleagues, who have condemned the stunt as “inconceivably stupid and crass,” particularly given the Grammys’ role as a fundraiser for victims of the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
This controversy comes amidst reports that West has been living in Japan for the past year and is now “not welcome” back in the country.
Read more: ‘Shōgun’ Star Anna Sawai Rumoured to be Cast as Yoko Ono in Sam Mendes’ Beatles Biopic
The loss of the Tokyo Dome deal represents a significant financial setback for the rapper, who is said to be focusing on launching his cryptocurrency.
Some online commentators have praised Japan for taking a stand against West’s behavior, with one user writing: “At least there’s one nation on the planet that won’t tolerate this behavior. They should have been thrown out of the awards show, arrested, and heavily fined. Well done, Japan—let’s hope more follow.”
