“Taylor Who?” — Internet Response to Kanye West’s Performance in China and Its $52 Million Boost to Local Tourism Revenue

On September 15, 2024, Kanye West made a spectacular return to Haikou, China, after 16 years, performing alongside Ty Dolla $ign. According to reports from Altitude News, based on information from the Haikou Municipal Tourism, Culture, Radio, Film and Television and Sports Bureau, Kanye’s performance in China generated impressive box office sales amounting to 51 million yuan, approximately 7.1 million USD.

This significant event also contributed to a remarkable boost in Haikou’s tourism revenue, which skyrocketed by 373 million yuan (around 52 million USD) due to the influx of attendees.

Internet users were quick to share their praise for Kanye’s achievement on social media platforms. One commentator humorously referenced Kanye West’s longstanding rivalry with Taylor Swift, contrasting Ye’s performance with Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, which was the first billion-dollar grossing tour in music history in 2023:

“Taylor who?”

“THATS SOME GOAT SHI RIGHT THERE”an X user tweeted.

“Kanye is the most influential rapper of all time”another X user stated.

“It’s only up from here”an internet user mentioned.

“This is huge”another internet user commented.

“can’t cancel greatness!”a fan tweeted.

Additionally, some users offered lighthearted commentary on Ye’s fashion choices, jokingly suggesting that China might be holding the rapper hostage:

“Yeah but he dressed like the hunchback of notre dame lmaoo”an X user tweeted.

“They boutta hold him hostage”another X user joked.

Kanye West Performs ‘Everybody’ with His Children at China Concert

Billboard described the concert as a “family affair in Haikou,”as Kanye West brought his four children—North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm—onto the stage at the Wuyuan River Sports Stadium to perform his song “Everybody”from the Vultures album. Notably, his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and current wife Bianca Censori were also in attendance at this monumental concert in China.

Videos shared by fans on social media captured North West holding her siblings’ hands as they walked onto the stage. In addition to the family performance, Kanye announced his plans to release a new solo album and debuted a new track titled “Preacher Man”during the concert. He informed his audience:

“This song is off my next project, it’s called Preacher Man.”

Furthermore, reports suggest that Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign may extend their stay in China, as fan pages like @yefanatics have been posting about a potential second show in Haikou scheduled for September 21, 2024.

This was confirmed by Haikou Tourism and Culture on September 16, 2024, with a translation stating:

“The scene was much better yesterday. The audience asked for an extra session, and the leaders held a discussion overnight and then accelerated the approval.”

Kanye West’s performance in China not only boosted local tourism revenue but also came as a surprise, considering his controversial history. Many artists, such as Coldplay, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift, have avoided China as a tour destination, while others like Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber have been banned due to controversial behavior.

As reported by The Standard, it is presumed that Ye was given strict guidelines for his performance, although this has not been officially confirmed by reliable sources.

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