‘Offensive’: How Kanye, Bianca broke the rules
Kanye West and his Australian wife Bianca Censori have been warned to rein in their bad behaviour by Italian officials.
World
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Italian tourist officials have begged Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori to “cover up” and respect the country’s modesty laws after offending their sense of public decency with their risqué behaviour whilst on holiday.
The tourism promotion office of the City of Florence has pointed the rapper, who legally changed his name to “Ye” in 2021, and his Australian architectural designer wife Bianca Censori to the code of “Enjoy and Respect Florence” which states that “Florence is not a beach establishment - your clothing (and behaviour) must be decent.”
The warning comes as the pair holiday in Italy prompting complaints from Italian locals that Ms Censori, 28, has been walking around “virtually naked’, which carries a fine of up to AU$830 (€500).
Police in Venice are investigating pictures of the couple caught on camera in a compromising position on a boat in Venice, claims today condemned as “disgusting” and “offensive” by the boat operator.
Senior tourist instructor Andrea Giordani at the Tourism and Promotion office in Florence, where the couple were seen at the weekend, said: “I’d like to remind Kanye and his wife that they have broken the code of Enjoy and Respect Florence, in fact their behaviour goes beyond that, and especially in the case of Venice where they were seen on the boat allegedly engaged in sexual activity - Italy is not that kind of place.
“We remind them of the code of Enjoy and Respect Florence - it reminds holiday-makers to remember what are the wrong behaviours (in most cases sanctionable up to AU$830), but also what are the “good practices” to live the city correctly and better organise your stay.
“Only in this way will it be possible to guarantee the civil coexistence and the protection of the rights of each of us, respecting the environment, the artistic heritage and the identity of Florence, a city that was the cradle of the Renaissance and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.”
The code lists a series of prohibitions stating it is forbidden to sit in streets, churchyards, on the steps of stairways, monuments and churches and avoid “exaggerated games” and jokes and to cause danger or fear in public places.
Graffiti, litter and loud behaviour is also forbidden as is being seen in indecent attire throughout the city and especially within places of worship.
Police are investigating the boat incident after West exposed his bare derrière while on a boat with Bianca seen kneeling in front of him.
In other images the American rapper, 46, was seen seated at the back of a river taxi while Australian Bianca, 28, nestled her head in his lap.
One of the boat operators is expecting to be questioned in the next few days about what exactly he saw on the boat and police are also asking for photographers to hand over the images that went around the world.
“I didn’t see anything, but I saw the pictures afterwards,” said one driver of the boat operating company Venezia Turismo Motascafi.
“They’re banned from using our company, I expect to be interviewed by police,” he said.
“I know they are newlyweds but they’re disrespectful.”
The company has since banned the couple from using their boats in the future.
“We completely dissociate ourselves from such acts and behaviour. Mr West and his wife will certainly no longer be welcome on board our company’s boats,” a statement read.
The couple caused a stir on Thursday in Florence while shopping in the Via dei Calzaiuoli in Florence.
Kanye, 46, choreographered an impromptu photoshoot with Bianca and excited locals in another one of her daring plunging nude looks.
Local fans filmed videos as Censori paraded her figure in a skin-tight leotard and pointy kitten heels and West adjusted her flesh-flashing outfit to ensure the best possible shot.
Locals complained to the police in Milan she was “nearly naked” in transparent attire and had to walk with a cushion covering her front.
She managed to avoid a fine for that but if convicted of public indecency they could face a fine from AU$8,275 to AU$16,547 (€5,000 to €10,000).
Fashion designer West, who is widely believed to be behind all of Censori’s recent and controversial looks and his new muse were first romantically linked in January 2023 just months after his divorce from Kim Kardashian.
The couple wed in a private ceremony in Beverly Hills in January.
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘Offensive’: How Kanye, Bianca broke the rules