The Wireless music festival in London has been cancelled after the Home Office blocked rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, from entering the United Kingdom. The decision followed a political row over his past antisemitic remarks.
Ye had been booked to headline all three days of the festival in July and applied for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) on Monday. Although initially granted online, the permit was rescinded by Home Office ministers on grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good.
Festival organisers confirmed the cancellation on Tuesday, stating that refunds would be issued to all ticket holders. They noted that multiple stakeholders had been consulted before booking Ye and no concerns were raised at the time. In a statement, they acknowledged Ye's apology and his expressed hope to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.
The rapper had previously made antisemitic comments, including voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler, releasing a song titled Heil Hitler, and advertising a swastika T-shirt. In January, he apologised in a Wall Street Journal advert, attributing his actions to bipolar disorder. On Tuesday, he offered to meet and listen to members of the UK's Jewish community.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had earlier criticised the festival for booking Ye. Phil Rosenberg of the Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed the ban, saying lessons should be learned across the music industry.
