Anyma responds after Istanbul show cancellation over alleged satanic imagery as ÆDEN artist claims AI-manipulated visuals fueled controversy

Anyma has responded after his ÆDEN show in Istanbul, Turkey, was cancelled following accusations surrounding imagery used in his audiovisual performances. The decision came after a social media campaign called for the event to be stopped over alleged “satanic” elements, while Anyma has since rejected those interpretations and claimed that some of the material circulated online had been manipulated using AI.

Anyma’s Istanbul Show Cancelled Following Online Campaign

The ÆDEN show was scheduled for September 12 at Ataköy Marina Arena as part of Anyma’s 2026 ÆDEN Global Tour. Ahead of the event, clips and images taken from his previous performances circulated across Turkish social media, with some accounts claiming that elements of the visuals represented “satanic rituals” or symbols and calling for the Istanbul date to be cancelled.

The Istanbul Governor’s Office later withdrew permission for the show. No formal explanation was initially published by the authority, but Emin Gökçegözoğlu, Provincial Press and Public Relations Director for the Istanbul Governor’s 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 on September 7. The decision brought the Istanbul stop to an end less than two weeks before Anyma was due to perform.

Anyma Responds To Claims And Alleges AI Manipulation

On September 6, Anyma, the project of Matteo Milleri, issued a lengthy 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 from the production had been presented without the context of the full story.

He also rejected the religious meaning being 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 addressed the material being circulated online, alleging 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 also stressed that his original visuals were not AI-generated, saying the technology had instead been used by others to alter his work.

The artist also 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. Anyma 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.