Travis Scott’s Pyramids of Giza 'Utopia’ Concert Has Officially Been Canceled
Due to “complex production issues,” according to a new statement from Live Nation.
Update: After a slew of confusing headlines about whether or not Travis Scott’s Utopia performance at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza would go forward, Live Nation Middle East on Wednesday released an official statement confirming that the show has been canceled.
Posted to Twitter, the message read, “We regret to inform you that the UTOPIA show, originally scheduled for July 28th at the Pyramids of Gyza in Egypt is canceled. Unfortunately, despite highest efforts, complex production issues meant that the show could not be constructed in the desert. We understand that this news is disappointing and not the outcome any of us desired.”
Live Nation confirmed that refunds will be issued to all ticket holders at their point of purchase. The company nor Scott have disclosed information about a new venue for the performance.
A message from Live Nation: pic.twitter.com/s05YWOVkpG
— Live Nation Middle East (@LiveNationME) July 26, 2023
Update: Counter to the statement from the Egyptian Syndicate, Live Nation says the concert will go on. “There have been no changes to Travis Scott’s show in Egypt; any reports to the contrary are false,” the promoter shared in its own statement. We can’t wait to celebrate ‘Utopia’ with you in Egypt!”
Update: Travis Scott’s representatives denied that the Utopia concert at the Pyramids of Giza has been canceled in an email to Hypebeast. Stay tuned for more on this developing story.
Original Story: Travis Scott will have to find another venue to debut his long-awaited Utopia LP. While the rapper was initially scheduled to perform the album at Egypt’s historic Pyramids of Giza on July 28, the concert has been canceled by The Egyptian Syndicate of Musical Professions, the authorities responsible for issuing permits for musical events.
In a statement, the Syndicate says that Scott’s music goes against the values and traditions of Egyptian culture.
“Since the General Syndicate is part of the fabric of this beloved country, it is keen on its stability and security and refuses to tamper with societal values, and Egyptian and Arab customs and traditions,” the statement reads.
“Based on research and documented information about strange rituals at Travis’s concerts that are inconsistent with our authentic societal values and traditions, the Board of Directors has decided to cancel the license issued to hold this type of concert that contradicts the cultural identity of the Egyptian people.”
Although the Syndicate doesn’t outrightly describe the “strange rituals” going on at Scott’s concerts, it seems to be implying a reference to the deathly crowd surge at 2021’s Astroworld music festival.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, a TikTok trend of “satanic panic”-style conspiracy theories targeted Scott, with some social media users going so far as to say the fatal event was part of a “satanic ritual.”
In other music news, Noname announced the release date of Sundial.
