Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has called for Kanye West to be barred from performing at the Wireless festival in London’s Finsbury Park in July, describing his past antisemitic remarks as “completely unacceptable and absolutely disgusting”. She said there was “no place for that kind of hatred, bigotry or antisemitism”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joined the criticism over the weekend, saying it was “deeply concerning” that West had been booked despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism. The government is understood to be reviewing West’s permission to enter the UK, although he has made no immediate plans to travel.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said the Prime Minister was “right to be deeply concerned”, but added he was “not a bystander”, noting the government can ban anyone whose presence would not be conducive to the public good. Tory MP Chris Philp wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to ask her to prevent West from travelling to the UK, while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey also called for a ban.
Major sponsors Pepsi and Diageo have withdrawn their sponsorship of the festival following West’s announcement as headline act, although their brands remain on the festival website. PayPal, a payment partner, will not appear in future promotional materials. West, who also goes by Ye, last performed in the UK at Glastonbury in 2015 and has faced repeated criticism for antisemitic remarks, including a track titled ‘Heil Hitler’ released last year.
Jewish organisations including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust have condemned the booking. West has previously apologised in a Wall Street Journal advert, stating he is not a Nazi or antisemite and attributing his behaviour to a manic episode linked to bipolar disorder.
