Rick Scott pushes back on Ye Tampa Florida concerts

Rick Scott pushed Tampa Florida officials to reconsider Kanye West’s June 26 and June 28 shows at Raymond James Stadium after citing West’s antisemitic remarks. The Florida senator asked the Tampa Sports Authority to review the booking because the venue is publicly owned and taxpayer dollars help support it.

Scott’s letter to Tampa

Scott addressed a letter to the Tampa Sports Authority Board of Directors and posted on X on Thursday, tagging West in the message. He wrote, "@kanyewest's antisemitic remarks are vile & a slap in the face to Florida’s Jewish community. It’s EXTREMELY troubling that TAXPAYER dollars are being used to fund his upcoming concert in Tampa. I’m demanding ACTION."

Raymond James Stadium’s website lists West for June 26 and June 28, giving the dispute a concrete deadline and a public venue attached to it. Scott also said those who perform there are accountable to taxpayers who help fund the building, putting the stadium operator directly in the middle of the booking decision.

Ye’s record before June

West’s recent history is part of what Scott put before the board. In February 2025, Ye posted "I love Hitler" and "I'm a Nazi." He also wrote, "I'm never apologizing for my Jewish comments. I can say whatever the f*** I wanna say forever. Where’s my f****** apology for freezing my accounts."

In January 2026, West issued an apology in a 750-word paid advertisement in The and said his antisemitic remarks were caused by a bipolar disorder episode. He described a "four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life" beginning in early 2025. That apology has not stopped Scott from treating the June Tampa dates as a public-money issue rather than a routine concert stop.

Taxpayer dollars and the board

Scott wrote that Ye’s "consistent antisemitic attacks are an affront to the values of the Hillsborough community. He has openly praised Nazis, called himself one, and slandered Jews across the world. Ye also funded a Super Bowl ad in 2025 that directed viewers to purchase merchandise featuring swastikas." He added, "I urge you to carefully review this decision, given the fact that taxpayer dollars are helping the show go on."

Scott also said Florida is home to one of the nation’s largest Jewish populations, which sharpens the politics around a stadium show that is already on the calendar. CBS12 News reached out to the Tampa Sports Authority for comment, leaving the board as the next body that can move this dispute forward.

For ticket holders, the important fact is simple: the June 26 and June 28 dates remain listed at Raymond James Stadium, but Scott has publicly pressed the operator to reconsider whether a taxpayer-supported venue should host Ye at all.