NEW YORK, June 6 (UPI) — Kanye West sent the Big Apple into chaos Monday morning when thousands of fans showed up for a surprise performance at the city’s famous Webster Hall.
Police shut down the impromptu sold-out show when some 4,000 people crowded in to the East Village about 2 a.m., People reported.
There were allegations of police using pepper spray to disband the crowd, which police denied, CNN reported.
West called the concert after his Governor’s Ball performance got cancelled due to weather.
“We’re doing PABLO at 2 a.m. in Manhattan. sorting out where now,” Virgil Abloh, West’s creative director, posted on line Sunday night about 10 p.m. The Grammy winning artist had planned to perform songs from his seventh studio album, “The Life of Pablo,” during the Governors Ball.
While the hastily called concert got cancelled, it wasn’t before Yeezy made a special appearance.
In a video captured by Kanye’s wife, Kim Kardashian West, and posted on Snapchat and Instagram, her husband can be heard saying “Either call the mayor and shut down the block about four streets… so they can have a party outside. I know it’s sold out already.”
The boisterous crowd of both locals and tourists chanted Kanye’s name and posted Snapchat videos of the chaos, roaring as celebrities like ASAP Rocky made their way through the throngs.
In an effort to deter the swelling crowd, Kanye tweeted about 1 a.m. “Show at 2 a.m. SOLD OUT.”
Still, fans stuck around, even after someone spoke in to a bullhorn telling them the concert was “not happening.”
It was not until about 2:30 when police began using dispersal tactics that the crowd began to break up. While a few fans claimed police used pepper spray or tear gas, police said that was not the case.
