Travis Scott. Photo by Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images.
Travis Scott’s show at the Pyramids of Giza has been canceled. Live Nation Middle East posted the announcement to Twitter today (July 26), and a representative of the company confirmed the news to The FADER. The performance was originally scheduled to take place this Friday, July 28, to coincide with the release of Scott’s fourth studio LP, Utopia.
“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’s statement reads, going on to note that ticket refunds will be issued at point of purchase.
A message from Live Nation: pic.twitter.com/s05YWOVkpG
— Live Nation Middle East (@LiveNationME) July 26, 2023
On July 18, a week after the show’s initial announcement, the AFP reported that the Egyptian Syndicate of Musical Professions, a local group responsible for approving concert licenses, intended to revoke Scott’s and Live Nation’s permit for the performance, citing the Astroworld tragedy as well as unspecified “strange rituals… that are inconsistent with [Egypt’s] authentic societal values and traditions,” according to a translated statement.
At the time, Live Nation vehemently denied the report, calling into question the Syndicate’s authority to cancel the show. “There have been no changes to Travis Scott’s show in Egypt; any reports to the contrary are false,” they wrote in a press statement later that day. “We can’t wait to celebrate ‘Utopia’ with you in Egypt!”
Utopia is still due out this Friday, and its companion film, Circus Maximus, is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
