Kanye West's plans for a UK comeback have been dealt a blow after Tottenham Hotspur rejected a proposal for the rapper to hold a residency at their stadium. The decision, reportedly due to the club's historic ties with the Jewish community, forced West's team to seek an alternative, leading to his headline slot at Wireless Festival.
The musician, now known as Ye, had hoped to perform a series of shows at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as part of his return to the UK stage. However, a source told The Sun that the club refused the proposal, citing concerns over West's past antisemitic comments. Tottenham has longstanding connections with London's Jewish community.
Following the rejection, West's team approached Wireless Festival, which accepted his offer to headline all three nights in July. The announcement, made last week, sparked immediate backlash, with criticism from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who described the booking as 'deeply concerning' and stated that 'antisemitism in any form is abhorrent'.
The controversy has led to major sponsors withdrawing their support. Pepsi announced it would pull its sponsorship of Wireless, saying the decision was made after the backlash and Sir Keir's comments. Diageo, the drinks company behind Captain Morgan and Johnnie Walker, also confirmed it would not sponsor the 2026 edition of the festival, citing concerns over West's involvement.
West has previously made antisemitic remarks, including a social media post threatening 'death con 3' on the Jewish community, as well as releasing a track titled Heil Hitler and merchandise featuring a swastika. He apologised in January via a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal, attributing his behaviour to a manic episode linked to bipolar disorder.
A spokesperson for Tottenham Hotspur declined to comment, while representatives for West have not responded to requests for comment. The Mirror has approached both parties for further clarification.
