Anyma Responds to Istanbul Show Cancellation Over Visuals

Governor's Office Withdraws Permission Days Before Show

The ÆDEN show scheduled for September 12 at Ataköy Marina Arena was cancelled after clips and images from Anyma's previous performances circulated on Turkish social media. Some accounts claimed the visuals contained satanic rituals or symbols and called for the Istanbul date to be stopped.

The Istanbul Governor's Office withdrew permission for the event. Emin Gökçegözoğlu, Provincial Press and Public Relations Director for the office, confirmed to Turkish fact-checking organisation Teyit that the cancellation was connected to alleged satanic elements. Promoter Only You Live officially confirmed the cancellation on September 4, with refunds through Passo beginning September 7.

Artist Alleges AI Manipulation of Show Footage

On September 6, Anyma, the project of Matteo Milleri, issued a response through Instagram Stories. He described ÆDEN as a science-fiction story dealing with darkness and light, destruction and creation, fear and hope, arguing that individual scenes had been presented without the context of the full narrative.

He rejected the religious meaning attributed to the visuals, explaining that the production draws references from art history, mythology and ancient literature but does not directly depict religious figures or intend to disrespect any religion or culture. Anyma then alleged that selected darker scenes had been taken from the show, manipulated using AI, combined with different music and shared in a way that created what he described as a false interpretation of the project. He stressed that his original visuals were not AI-generated and that the technology had instead been used by others to alter his work.

Appeal Planned as Artist Seeks Dialogue

Anyma criticised the process leading to the cancellation, stating that neither he, his team nor Only You Live received a meaningful warning or an opportunity to explain the production before permission was withdrawn. He confirmed that he intends to appeal the decision and remains open to speaking with local authorities, while expressing hope that ÆDEN can eventually be presented in Istanbul.

The cancelled date was part of Anyma's 2026 ÆDEN Global Tour.