Blockfest organizers deny claims of Chief Keef’s early cancellation in Helsinki

Blockfest organizers have denied claims that the festival’s headliner, Chief Keef, canceled his performance prior to Wednesday. The festival announced on Instagram that the American rapper had unexpectedly withdrawn, leading to a flood of reactions from fans. Many were skeptical about the organizers’ honesty, suspecting they might have been aware of the cancellation earlier, while some speculated that the last-minute announcement was merely a marketing tactic aimed at boosting ticket sales.

Earlier this summer, Chief Keef canceled multiple performances in Europe for health reasons and postponed his U.S. tour, which raised concerns among fans that he might not appear at Blockfest, despite reassurances from the organizers.

Jenna-Juulia Rekiö, the marketing manager, stated via email to Yle that Chief Keef indeed canceled only on Wednesday, and the announcement came as a complete surprise. “We have been in constant contact with the artist and his representatives, and according to the information they provided, Chief Keef was still expected to perform up until yesterday,” she explained. While the artist was eager to perform, he had not received the necessary travel documents, which are essential for international travel.

The organizers acknowledged that changes in lineups can provoke various emotions among festival-goers, emphasizing the importance of maintaining fans’ trust. They confirmed that they worked hard to secure a replacement artist and communicated this as quickly as possible.

Just hours later, Blockfest announced Gunna as Chief Keef’s replacement, and Rekiö noted the response has been positive, with fans looking forward to his performance. Gunna’s travel documents are reportedly in order, and there are no obstacles to his appearance. Rekiö explained that lineup changes are not uncommon at festivals, referencing similar situations at events across Europe this year. Requests for refunds due to lineup changes will be handled on a case-by-case basis, as is standard practice.