The Wireless music festival has been cancelled after Kanye West, now known as Ye, was banned from entering the United Kingdom due to his past antisemitic remarks. The rapper had been scheduled to headline all three days of the London festival in July.
The Home Office revoked Ye's electronic travel authorisation (ETA) on Tuesday, stating that his presence would not be conducive to the public good. A spokesperson for Wireless confirmed the cancellation, saying refunds would be issued to all ticket holders. The organisers acknowledged that multiple stakeholders had been consulted before booking Ye and that no concerns were raised at the time.
Ye has faced criticism for making antisemitic statements, including voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler. In January, he placed a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal apologising for his behaviour, attributing it to bipolar disorder. On Tuesday, he offered to meet and listen to members of the UK's Jewish community.
The decision to ban Ye came after pressure from political figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described the booking as “deeply concerning”. The cancellation leaves the festival with no headliners just three months before the event, complicating efforts to find replacements due to pre-existing summer schedules.
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, welcomed the Home Office's decision, expressing gratitude for cross-political support. He said the situation could have been resolved earlier and hoped lessons would be learned across the industry.
