The singer Ye is on the concert. Photo: screenshot from a video posted on Sina Weibo

The organizer of US pop singer Kanye West's (also known as Ye) Shanghai concert has issued an apology after the event was delayed and drew criticism.

In a statement released late Saturday on China's X-like platform Sina Weibo, event promoter StellarAmberGroup expressed regret that key stage visuals and smoke effects could not be executed as planned, saying the weather conditions impacted the delivery of the show's core production elements.

"However, for this long-awaited return after 17 years, Ye's team insisted on prioritizing artistic integrity. After emergency adjustments, the show was delayed to ensure the best possible experience and to minimize the disappointment for the audience," the statement said.

The company also thanked Ye's team for persevering through the rain and doing their utmost to deliver the full-length performance and concertgoers for their patience and understanding.

 "We are deeply moved by the understanding and patience shown by many of the attendees and express our heartfelt gratitude," the statement continued. "We also extend our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience caused and appreciate everyone's attention and support."

On Saturday night, Kanye West left thousands of fans frustrated at his highly anticipated concert at Shanghai Stadium. The show, widely promoted as the first live performance following the release of his new album, was marked by a late start, minimal production, and widespread disappointment among concertgoers.

The concert was scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm, but by 8:10 pm, Ye had yet to appear on stage, according to Chengdu Business Daily. As heavy rain fell, impatient fans began chanting for refunds, expressing their dissatisfaction with the delay. After more than 40 minutes, Ye finally emerged —without any opening remarks, stage design, or even lighting — launching straight into his set, as reported by the media outlet. A Xiaohongshu user, "Weiboluo," who had attended the concert in person, confirmed this to the Global Times on Saturday.

Videos circulating online show a bare stage with no backup dancers, featuring only Ye performing alone amid occasional bursts of dry-ice smoke. The rain further compromised the sound quality, leaving many in the audience struggling to enjoy the music.

Ticket prices for the event ranged from 980 yuan ($136.7) to 2,680 yuan ($373.8), with many fans holding tickets in the highest price brackets of 1,880 yuan and 2,680 yuan, as reported by the Sanxiang Metropolis Daily. 

The concert quickly became a trending topic on Chinese social media, sparking heated debate. Some attendees described the experience as "arriving with excitement, leaving in disappointment," and criticized the abrupt start and end of the show. Some netizens remarked that they had "never seen such a poorly organized concert"although they can understand difficulties the singer faced when performing in the rain, while others questioned whether the singer and the organizer of the event had put any real effort into the performance at all, considering such high ticket prices of the concert.

Weiboluo told the Global Times that he purchased a 2,180-yuan concert ticket because he loves Kanye's music, but he feels that this concert didn't allow him to fully immerse himself or enjoy the experience. During the performance, the singer left the stage after singing a few songs and then returned without explanation several times — "perhaps to change outfits," he speculated—which disrupted the audience's enthusiasm just as they were starting to get into the mood. 

Another Xiaohongshu user "oooi" also expressed his dissatisfaction with the concert and told the Global Times that the overall experience provided didn't match the relatively high ticket price , especially since the organizers had not done a good job.

The concert was officially announced for July 12 at the Shanghai Stadium, with presale tickets launched on July 2, quickly selling out. The event was promoted as an immersive, multi-sensory experience, promising innovative stage design, upgraded setlists, and international production teams. Promotional materials highlighted the show as a "comprehensive, genre-defying journey through Ye's musical career, combining sound, light, visuals, and installations."

Kanye West has a special connection to China, having lived in Nanjing for a year with his mother in 1987. He has previously shared childhood photos from his time in China on social media.

In September 2024, Ye held a listening event at the Wuyuanhe Stadium in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province. The event generated 373 million yuan in tourism revenue and about 51 million yuan in ticket sales, with 96.5 percent of ticket buyers coming from outside the island. Tickets for that event also sold out rapidly.