Jewish organisations in the UK have threatened mass protests if Kanye West, now known as Ye, proceeds with his three-night residency at London's Wireless festival in July. The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) stated that if Ye is genuinely sorry for his antisemitic remarks, he should cancel the performances.
Ye has faced criticism for making antisemitic comments, including expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler. Last year, he released a song titled 'Heil Hitler' and advertised a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website. In January, he took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal apologising for his behaviour, attributing it to his bipolar-1 disorder.
On Tuesday, Ye offered to meet with members of the UK's Jewish community, saying: 'My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace and love through my music.' However, the CAA dismissed this, with a spokesperson saying: 'This is about profit, not forgiveness.'
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said it would only meet Ye if he agreed not to play at the festival. President Phil Rosenberg noted that Ye's latest album includes a track titled 'Gas Chamber', questioning his sincerity. The government is reviewing Ye's permission to enter the UK, with a Downing Street spokesperson saying 'all options remain on the table'.
Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, which promotes Wireless, defended the booking, stating that Ye is not being given a platform to extol opinions but to perform songs played on radio. He called for forgiveness, citing his own experience with a mentally ill family member.
