Kanye West, who was expected to headline the Wireless music festival in London in July, has been denied entry to the US rapper’s anti-Semitic remarks in recent years, Britain’s Home Office told the BBC today.
West, 48, applied for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) on Monday to enter the UK, the BBC reported, citing the Home Office. His application was rejected on the grounds that “his presence would not be in the public interest”, the British public broadcaster added.
West, now known as Ye, has been criticized in the past for anti-Semitic comments and glorification of Nazism, which has led to his social media accounts, including his X accounts, being banned.
Kanye West posts on X in February 2025
The Starmer government is adamant
The British government’s decision comes as a result of pressure to not allow the American rapper to enter the country.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the decision to invite West to the festival was “deeply troubling”.
Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless.
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…
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer)
The health minister said the rapper’s actions were not just a handful of “misguided comments” but “a pattern of behavior – releasing a song called ‘Heil Hitler’, plastering that slogan on T-shirts and then using bipolar disorder as an excuse”.
The festival is cancelled
Major companies pulled their sponsorships from the Wireless Festival due to West’s presence, with the latest reports suggesting the event has been cancelled.
As a result of the Home Office banning YE from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel.
All ticket holders will recieve an automatic full refund.
— Wireless Festival (@WirelessFest)
He asks for “forgiveness” from the Jewish community
He offered to meet Britain’s Jewish community today in response to backlash against him at an appearance in London in July.
“My only goal is to come to London and put on a show of change, bringing unity, peace and love through music,” he said. “I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet in person with members of the Jewish community in the UK, to listen,” he said. “I know that words are not enough – I will have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here,” he added.
Ye has performed in the US and Mexico City this year, but was banned from entering Australia last July after releasing ‘Heil Hitler’, a Nazi praise song. He also advertised a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.
Just a slither of Kanye Wests wrongdoings…
– said he is a nazi
– said he loves Hitler
– made nazi merch
– made a song praising Hitler
– wore a “white lives matter” shirt with Candace Owens
– plethora of MAGA/Trump praise
– was sued by George Floyds family after claiming he died…— ry (@RyanNice)
In January, he published a full-page Wall Street Journal op-ed apologizing, attributing his behavior to an undiagnosed brain injury and untreated bipolar disorder. He also apologized for earlier expressions of admiration for Adolf Hitler and the use of swastika images.
