Electronic music producer Matteo Milleri, best known as Anyma, has issued a detailed response following the cancellation of his September 12 “ÆDEN” tour show in Istanbul, Turkey. The Istanbul Governorate officially revoked permission for the performance at Ataköy Marina Arena following intense social media backlash. Critics claimed that the futuristic digital animations, robotic figures, and dark cyberpunk aesthetics used in his signature audiovisual performance contained pagan and “satanic” ritualistic imagery.
The decision came after social media campaigns gained traction in Turkey, with users framing clips from the show out of context and demanding a boycott to protect local cultural and social values. The event ban fits into a larger pattern of recent cancellations in Istanbul involving artists whose aesthetics push visual boundaries, including metallic and rock groups like Behemoth and Slaughter to Prevail.
Breaking his silence in an extended statement via Instagram, Milleri firmly rejected the accusations, providing crucial artistic context while raising serious concerns about how his work was targeted. Anyma explained that his show is an overarching science-fiction narrative exploring darkness, light, destruction, and hope. “Taking one scene from any film or work and presenting it out of context as the meaning of the entire project is fundamentally misleading,” he wrote, adding that his storytelling is inspired by classic art, mythology, and literature—not religious figures.
Milleri revealed that critics manipulated clips of his shows using AI to manufacture a false narrative. “None of my visuals are AI-generated, and the greatest irony is that AI was used to alter my work by those who condemn it… My art was turned into social media and political propaganda,” he stated. The producer expressed frustration over the sudden ban, stating that neither he, his team, nor local promoters were given the opportunity to clarify the production or discuss potential adaptations before the decision was handed down.
“Art can be questioned, challenged and debated, but we ask it to be judged for what it actually is, not for what someone else can manipulate it to appear as.”
He also stated that he would like to reschedule the performance in Turkey. “I hope we can come back and finish the story in Istanbul together” Anyma stated.
Based on the announced schedule, the ÆDEN tour still has several cities left this year:
- September 19, 2026, Milan
- September 26, 2026, Madrid
- October 17, 2026, Sydney at The Domain
- November 21, 2026, Mumbai at Mahalaxmi Racecourse, his first show in India
- December 12, 2026, Paris, closing the tour
Alongside the tour, Anyma holds an ÆDEN residency at UNVRS in Ibiza every Tuesday from June to September 2026.
For fans who purchased tickets as of early September, the local promoter (Only You Live) and ticketing platforms are processing refunds on Monday.
