The rapper previously often called Kanye West was barred Tuesday from coming into the UK, the place he was scheduled to headline the Wireless Festival in July, after a backlash over Ye’s historical past of antisemitic remarks.
Festival organizers canceled the three-day out of doors occasion on account of the journey ban and mentioned those that had purchased tickets would get refunds.
Ye utilized for an digital journey authorization to go to the UK, but it surely was blocked by the federal government on the grounds that his presence within the nation wouldn’t be “conducive to the public good.”
“Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned in a press release posted on social media. “This government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism. We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values.”
The rapper, who modified his title in 2021, had been anticipated to play his first UK dates for greater than a decade in entrance of round 150,000 revelers over three nights July 10-12 on the Wireless Festival, in London’s Finsbury Park. Other acts for the pageant had not but been introduced.
The occasion’s organizers had been below mounting strain from sponsors and politicians to cancel the gigs by the rapper, who has drawn widespread condemnation for making antisemitic remarks and voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler.
Last 12 months, Ye launched a music known as “Heil Hitler” and marketed a swastika T-shirt on the market on his web site. Officials in Australia canceled the musician’s visa in July after the discharge of the only.
The 48-year-old apologized in January with a letter, revealed as a full-page commercial in The Wall Street Journal. He mentioned his bipolar dysfunction led him to fall into “a four-month long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life.”
Wireless sponsors Pepsi, Rockstar Energy and Diageo pulled out of the pageant since Ye was introduced because the headliner.
In a press release issued Tuesday earlier than his journey authorization was revoked, Ye mentioned he “would be glad about the chance to satisfy with members of the Jewish group within the UK in particular person, to hear.
“I know words aren’t enough — I’ll have to show change through my actions,” he mentioned. “If you’re open, I’m here.”
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, had mentioned the group could be prepared to satisfy with the musician if he pulled out of the pageant.
“The Jewish community will want to see a genuine remorse and change before believing that the appropriate place to test this sincerity is on the main stage at the Wireless Festival,” Rosenberg mentioned.
Organizer Festival Republic had stood by Ye. In a press release issued Monday, managing director Melvin Benn urged folks to supply the performer “forgiveness and hope.”
“We are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions,” the assertion mentioned.
Announcing the cancellation, Festival Republic mentioned that “a number of stakeholders had been consulted upfront of reserving Ye and no issues had been highlighted on the time.
“Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognize the real and personal impact these issues have had,” it mentioned in a press release. “As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.”
The Community Security Trust, which works to guard British Jews, mentioned the federal government had made the proper determination.
“Anti-Jewish hatred should have no place in society and cultural leaders have a role to play in ensuring that is the case,” it mentioned in a press release.
“People who show genuine and meaningful remorse for previous antisemitic behavior will always receive a sympathetic hearing from the Jewish community, but that process must come before this kind of public rehabilitation.”
A consultant for Ye didn’t reply to a request for remark.
© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This materials is probably not revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.