Chaotic Shanghai Crowd Booes and Chants for Refunds as Kanye’s Return Show Sparks Disappointment

14 July 2025

The concert at Shanghai Stadium attracted thousands but faced numerous setbacks.

When Kanye West, now performing under “Ye” took the stage at Shanghai Stadium on July 12, anticipation filled the air. Yet within minutes of his delayed arrival, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Fans began chanting for refunds as soon as the 70,000-strong audience realized the show would be seriously underwhelming. What promised to be a comeback performance quickly became a public rebuke.

Spectators arrived early, buzzed by news that this would mark Kanye’s first live outing since September 2024. But when the star wandered onstage over forty minutes late, tempers flared. Voices chanting “refund” echoed throughout the stadium, an unprecedented reaction to such a high-profile event. Attendees bristled at reports that he remained confined to a small circle on the stage, wore a mask throughout the performance, and appeared to lip-sync rather than sing live. One fan lamented, “His mic must have been up less than 20 percent of the time,” while others recalled a baffling twenty-minute disappearance during the encore, leaving tracks like “Wolves” playing on loop with Kanye offstage.

The technical execution or lack thereof became a central target of criticism. Videos captured glitchy sound and grainy, obstructed visuals, and fans reported that the live sound was barely audible. Accounts across social platforms labeled it “the worst concert I’ve ever been to,” lamenting that such a spectacle failed to live up to expectations. Some attendees accused Kanye of reducing his live performances to playback, steering his art away from raw authenticity and toward sanitized spectacle.

Operational missteps compounded the frustration. Heavy rain reportedly delayed production setup and impacted lighting rigs, but few spectators offered mercy. Merchants and fans rooted in Shanghai’s strict timeline norms expressed that no amount of technical difficulty should permit such tardiness. “Shanghai consumers do NOT play,” posted one social media user, summarizing a collective sentiment.

Despite the mounting backlash, Kanye took to X to thank his Chinese audience, commending both fans and the government and promising eagerly to perform again. His statement acknowledged the “amazing” energy even as video footage revealed a chorus of disgruntlement.

Behind the scenes, event promoters cited weather as a complication, explaining that unplanned rainfall forced adjustments to preserve artistic intent and that Kanye’s stage appearance time shifted accordingly. They thanked audiences for their understanding and apologized for the inconvenience, though many viewed the statement as too little, too late.

This unfortunate evening marks a turning point in Kanye’s return to touring. What began as a high-stakes relaunch opportunity instead devolved into embarrassment. Videos and reviews suggest a hip-hop titan out of sync with the expectations of a modern live audience, one unwilling to tolerate producer-driven performances or a lack of in-person engagement.

The large-scale refund chants are more than isolated criticism, they signal a loss of trust that could resonate far beyond one city. It reflects evolving fan expectations: live shows aren’t merely playback sessions, they’re experiences. And if these experiences are compromised, especially under the spotlight of 2025, audiences will hold artists accountable.

As Kanye readies a string of upcoming shows slated for locations like Slovakia and Korea later this month the question is whether his next stop will deliver redemption or repeat frustration. After Shanghai, the stakes are higher than ever: can he repair both the technical failures and more crucially, the credibility he’s lost?

Only time and the next performance will tell if his legacy can survive this stumble. If fans in Europe and Asia are watching now, they’re waiting in silence, not just for the opening chords but for a return to artistry that earns their applause.