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The United Kingdom government on Tuesday barred US rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, from entering the country over his past antisemitic remarks, forcing organisers to cancel a major music festival he was scheduled to headline.
A government source confirmed that West had applied on Monday for permission to travel to Britain, but the request was rejected because his presence was deemed not conducive to the public good.
Following the Home Office’s decision, the organisers of the Wireless Festival in London cancelled the July event, where the rapper had been booked to perform across all three nights.
“As a result of the Home Office banning YE from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel,” the organisers wrote on Instagram, adding that all ticket holders would receive automatic full refunds.
Tickets for the event had only gone on sale earlier on Tuesday. The controversy had already intensified over the weekend, with several sponsors withdrawing support, including drinks companies Pepsi and Diageo.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had earlier criticised the decision to book West, calling it “deeply concerning” and saying the rapper “should never have been invited to headline Wireless.”
“This government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism,” Starmer added on X.
“We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values.”
West, 48, has faced widespread criticism in recent years for antisemitic comments and statements praising Adolf Hitler.
In 2025, he released a controversial song titled Heil Hitler and previously promoted a swastika-themed T-shirt on his website, leading to bans from major streaming platforms.
Later, the rapper expressed regret and claimed that his actions were caused by bipolar illness.
West stated that his “only goal” in an advertisement titled “To Those I’ve Hurt” in the Wall Street Journal was “to present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music”.
West’s planned European comeback tour has already faced opposition elsewhere. In Marseille, France, the city’s mayor said the rapper was “not welcome” to perform at a concert scheduled for June.
