Albania’s PM defends $4.56 million spent on Kanye West concert

Albania’s prime minister defended the government’s decision to spend €4 million ($4.56 million) on a concert by U.S. rapper Kanye West, as protests grew and calls for his resignation intensified.

In a post on Facebook, Prime Minister Edi Rama said the money was allocated at the last minute to prevent Albania from “embarrassing” itself in the eyes of nearly 25,000 foreign visitors from about 80 countries who had already purchased tickets. He argued that many others were worried the concert could be cancelled.

Rama said the event was expected to generate at least €100 million in revenue for Albania, pointing to a spike in accommodation bookings around the concert period.

The July 11 show is scheduled just outside Tirana and will be held in a makeshift stadium built specifically for the event.

The controversy has been inflamed by Kanye West’s recent bans from several European countries, following remarks including praise for Adolf Hitler and Nazi imagery. West later apologized for some of those remarks.

Rama’s announcement triggered negative reactions online, while daily protests in Tirana have continued for more than a month. Protesters say the concert episode has added to anger over other development issues, including a planned luxury resort backed by a company linked to Jared Kushner, the U.S. president’s son-in-law. Protestors and critics have also demanded Rama’s resignation, accusing his government of corruption, which he denies.