rapper presented a request to travel on Monday, but was blocked by the Ministry of Internal Affairs because it considered that his presence “would not be in favor of the public interest”. Festival where I was going to participate was canceled
The British government prevented American rapper Kanye West from entering the United Kingdom, considering that his presence “would not be in the public interest”, the BBC reported.
The British Home Office told the BBC that the rapper on Monday submitted an application to travel to the United Kingdom via an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
The information comes in the wake of growing opposition to his hiring as headliner at the Wireless festival in London.
West, now known as Ye, has been criticized in the past for anti-Semitic statements and praise for Nazism, which has led to his social media accounts, including X, being blocked on several occasions.
Following the decision, Festival Republic, the company organizing the Wireless festival, announced the cancellation of the event.
“The Wireless Festival is canceled and refunds will be made to all ticket holders,” the company said in a statement released on Tuesday.
“Anti-Semitism in all its forms is abject, and we recognize the real and personal impact these issues have had. As YE said today, he recognizes that words alone are not enough, and despite this, he continues to hope that he will be given the opportunity to start a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK,” Festival Republic added.
The rapper had previously released a statement in which he said he had followed the discussion surrounding his presence on Wireless and wanted to “directly address” the matter.
“My only goal is to go to London and perform a show of change, promoting unity, peace and love through my music,” reads the statement, in an update to his Wall Street Journal letter, titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” released earlier on Tuesday by Wireless’ promoter Festival Republic.
“I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet in person with members of the Jewish community in the UK to listen to them,” West said, adding that he knows “that words are not enough – I will have to show change through my actions,” he added. “If they are available for this, here I am.”
