Main points
- Kanye West has been banned from entering the UK, leading to the cancellation of the Wireless festival in London, where he was scheduled to headline.
- The decision was made due to concerns about his anti-Semitic remarks, which sparked a backlash from politicians and the Jewish community.
Kanye West / Photo by Getty Images
Kanye West was announced as the headliner for three days of the Wireless festival in London, but the UK government has banned the rapper from entering the country.
On Monday, April 6, Kanye West (also known as YE) applied to travel to the UK using an electronic travel authorization. However, the rapper was denied, writes the BBC.
The decision was justified by the fact that Kanye West's presence “would not be in the interests of the public good.”
Because of this, Wireless Festival published an official statement on Instagram – the event has been canceled. Ticket holders will be refunded.
Organizers added that they consulted with many parties before booking the artist. There were no concerns at the time.
Anti-Semitism in all its forms is abhorrent and we recognise the real and personal impact of these issues. As YE said today, he recognises that words alone are not enough and, despite this, he still hopes to have the opportunity to start a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK,
– the organizers said.
Why did the scandal arise?
- The Wireless Festival, which was scheduled to take place in London from July 10 to 12, has announced Kanye West as its headliner. The rapper will headline each night. West last performed in the UK about 11 years ago.
- The statement was followed by concerns from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with calls from some politicians to restrict his entry, as well as statements from the Jewish community and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
- Festival director Melvin Benn responded by saying he did not support Kanye West's comments about the Jewish community, but that he believed people should be given a second chance.
Kanye West has been embroiled in several high-profile scandals in recent years due to anti-Semitic statements and admiration for Hitler and Putin. In 2025, he released the song Heil Hitler, which features an excerpt from a Hitler speech. Kanye has also advertised swastika T-shirts.
In January 2026, Kanye West apologized for his remarks in a letter published in the Wall Street Journal. He attributed the apology to his bipolar disorder, which caused a manic episode. Amidst the festival discussions, Kanye spoke out again, writing that he understood that “words are not enough” and that he was ready to meet with representatives of the Jewish community in London.