LONDON, Apr 7 (Reuters) – The United Kingdom prevented American rapper Kanye West from traveling to the country to be the headlining act at London’s Wireless Festival in July, due to his antisemitic comments and celebration of Nazism.
The festival’s organizer, Festival Republic, said that his permission to enter and perform in the United Kingdom was withdrawn on Tuesday, that the three-day festival was cancelled, and that refunds would be issued to all ticket holders.
The government was under pressure to deny West’s entry, now known as Ye, after he was named headlining act for the Wireless Festival on April 1. Several major companies pulled their sponsorship of the event.
The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said the artist should never have been invited to be the festival’s headlining act.
“We will always take the necessary measures to protect the public and defend our values,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ye offered to meet the United Kingdom Jewish community, saying his sole objective was to come to London and perform a show of change, “bringing unity, peace and love through music.”
He has performed in the United States and Mexico City this year, but was prevented from entering Australia last July after releasing ‘Heil Hitler,’ a song that promotes Nazism. The artist also announced a swastika T-shirt for sale on his site.
In January, he ran a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal to apologize, attributing his behavior to an undiagnosed brain injury and an untreated bipolar disorder. He also apologized for earlier expressions of admiration for Adolf Hitler and for the use of swastika imagery.
Ye said he had been following the conversation about Wireless.
“I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet in person with members of the United Kingdom Jewish community to listen to them,” he stated. “I know words are not enough — I will have to show the change through my actions. If you are open, I am here.”
