A Miami Beach lounge has sparked widespread condemnation following the performance of a Ye (formerly Kanye West) song praising Adolf Hitler during a Saturday gathering that included far-right influencers, The New York Times stated. Brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate – currently defending against European rape and trafficking accusations – attended the event.
Vendôme, the South Beach establishment that markets itself as an exclusive Parisian venue, enforces strict admission criteria and charges several thousand dollars for table service, the report noted.
Nick Fuentes, a controversial far-right American political commentator known for his antisemitic comments, joined the Tates at Saturday's event, along with manosphere podcaster Myron Gaines and associated figures.
Online videos swiftly documented the venue's DJ spinning "Heil Hitler" while attendees repeated the track's chorus, which echoes its title. Several participants extended arms in Nazi salutes as the multi-platform-banned song played, The New York Times stated.
Additional footage captured identical music blaring through party bus speakers that transported the group to the nightclub, according to the report. Men sang along to the lyrics while at least one raised his arm in salute. Video creators remain unidentified, The New York Times noted.
Orthodox Jewish Mayor Steven Meiner condemned both venue management and attendee behavior. On Sunday, he expressed being "deeply disturbed and disgusted by these videos of twisted individuals glorifying Hitler and the murder of millions," referencing his relatives killed during the Holocaust. Hate-promoting influencers lack welcome status in Miami Beach, a city with substantial Jewish representation, the mayor emphasized.
His written statement declared, "Antisemitism, hate speech, or the normalization of extremist ideology has no place in our Miami Beach community, our nightlife, or any public setting."
The Anti-Defamation League – an organization combating antisemitism since 1913 – issued social media condemnations. "Imagine being Jewish, out for a fun night, and now you're surrounded by people performing Nazis salutes to a song that glorifies the individual responsible for murdering 6 million other Jews," the group stated and declared, "this is not ok."
Monday's social media announcement from Vendôme confirmed three employee dismissals and permanent bans on certain guests, though the specific names remained undisclosed. "Vendôme has a zero-tolerance policy towards antisemitism or any other form of discrimination," the club's management stated. The venue acknowledged that "Although Vendôme was not aware in advance of the incident, it should have never occurred."
The bus footage showed Tristan Tate moving rhythmically and gesturing while the song played, and at Vendôme, cameras caught Andrew Tate grinning during the track's performance, The New York Times reported. However, Attorney Joseph D. McBride, representing the siblings, declared on X that his clients reject bigotry, saying: "If the club is looking for someone to blame, it should start by looking in the mirror." McBride clarified that "To be clear, Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate condemn antisemitism and any glorification of Adolf Hitler. Free speech is not a license for hate."
Holocaust denier Fuentes – who dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2022 – also rejected Monday's criticism through a social media post containing racial profanity.
