Britain has denied American entertainer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, entry into the country due to his repeated anti-Semitic actions. The disgraced rapper was scheduled to perform at the “Wireless Festival” in July.
“As a result of the Home Office banning Ye from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel,” event organizers announced on Instagram on Tuesday.
Organizers said refunds would be sent to ticket holders for the three-day open-air event in London’s Finsbury Park.
The BBC quoted the UK Home Office as saying on Tuesday that the US artist’s presence would not be “conducive to the public well-being”.
Why are you controversial?
Last year, Ye, who has repeatedly praised Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, released a song called “Heil Hitler” and advertised a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.
In January, he issued a public apology, blaming anti-Semitism for his bizarre behavior and mental illness.
Wireless sponsors Pepsi, Rockstar Energy and Diageo withdrew support after organizers Festival Republic invited Ye to headline the event.
Festival Republic said it supported the entertainer and urged an “apology”.
Before the decision, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Ye’s booking as “deeply worrying”.
On Tuesday, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting went one better, calling Republic’s defense of the festival “absurd” and saying Ye should “absolutely not” be allowed to perform in the country.
Before the story broke, Ye issued a statement expressing his desire to meet with Britain’s Jewish leaders to prove his change of heart through actions.
Phil Rosenberg, Chairman of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said in response, “The Jewish community would like to see genuine repentance and change before accepting that the appropriate venue to test this sincerity is on the main stage of the Wireless Festival.”
Edited by: Wesley Rahn