The prime minister has mentioned it’s “deeply concerning” that Kanye West has been booked for a London music festival “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”.
The 48-year-old rapper – who has not carried out within the UK since he headlined Glastonbury in 2015 – will high the invoice for all three nights of Wireless festival in July.
In the time since he final carried out on UK soil, West has drawn criticism for antisemitic X posts, a Super Bowl advert directing folks to a swastika t-shirt and a track referencing Hitler.
Sir Keir Starmer mentioned in a press release: “It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.
“Antisemitism in any kind is abhorrent and have to be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it seems. Everyone has a accountability to make sure Britain is a spot the place Jewish folks really feel secure and safe.”
West, also known as Ye, has been barred from X over antisemitism on multiple occasions.
West’s final UK efficiency was 11 years in the past. Pic: AP
In December 2022, the Power rapper’s account was suspended after a submit displaying a swastika inside a Star of David.
Adidas, which labored with West on his Yeezy trainers, reduce ties with him after the incident and donated greater than $150m (£117m) to anti-hate teams.
In February final yr, West deleted his account after being criticised for posting “hate-filled” remarks about Jewish folks, in addition to writing “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi”.
Weeks later, he drew criticism over a TV advert that directed folks to a web site promoting a swastika t-shirt and launched a track titled Heil Hitler.
In January, West took out a full-page advert within the Wall Street Journal to apologise to Jewish and black folks, titled: “To Those I’ve Hurt.”
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it mentioned. “I love Jewish people.”
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The 48-year-old attributed his previous outbursts to his bipolar-1 disorder, writing: “In early 2025, I fell into a four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life.
“I misplaced contact with actuality. Things obtained worse the longer I ignored the issue. I mentioned and did issues I deeply remorse.”
“I remorse and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am dedicated to accountability, therapy, and significant change,” he continued. “It doesn’t excuse what I did although.”
Wireless Festival was contacted for remark.
