LONDON, April 7 (Reuters) – The United Kingdom prevented American rapper Kanye West from traveling to the country to headline London’s Wireless Festival in July because of his anti-Semitic comments and celebration of Nazism.
Festival organizer Republic said his permission to enter and perform in the UK was withdrawn on Tuesday, that the three-day festival was canceled and that refunds would be issued to all ticket holders.
The government was under pressure to deny entry to West, now known as Ye, after he was named headliner at the Wireless Festival on April 1. Several major companies canceled their sponsorship of the event.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the artist should never have been invited to headline the festival.
“We will always take necessary steps to protect the public and defend our values,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ye offered to meet the UK’s Jewish community, saying his only goal was to go to London and perform a show of change, “bringing unity, peace and love through music.”
He performed in the United States and Mexico City this year, but was barred from entering Australia last July after releasing ‘Heil Hitler’, a song promoting Nazism. The artist also announced a swastika t-shirt for sale on his website.
In January, he took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal to apologize, attributing his behavior to an undiagnosed brain injury and untreated bipolar disorder. He also apologized for previous expressions of admiration for Adolf Hitler and the use of swastika images.
Ye said he was following the conversation about Wireless.
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‘I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet in person with members of the UK Jewish community to hear from them,’ he declared. ‘I know words are not enough — I will have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.’
