Wireless Festival cancelled after Kanye West controversy
Wireless Festival has been cancelled following the controversy surrounding Kanye West.
Ye was scheduled to headline the London festival at Finsbury Park on July 10th, 11th and 12th.
However, on April 7th, it was reported that Kanye had been banned from the UK. As a result, Wireless has announced that the event has been cancelled.
“As a result of the Home Office banning YE from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel,” they said. “All ticket holders will receive an automatic full refund.”
The Home Office stated that Kanye filed an application to travel to the UK on April 6th via an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). He was blocked because his presence was deemed not to be conducive to the public good.
The ban comes shortly after the UK Prime Minister condemned the festival booking him over his antisemitic comments.
“It is deeply concerning Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism,” Keir Starmer said in a statement.
He continued, “Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.”
Ye claimed that he aimed to bring “unity, peace and love” through his music and wanted to show that he had changed through his actions.
Despite disagreeing with his “vile” comments, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage disagreed with Kanye getting banned. “The rabbit hole of antisemitism and straight Nazi-sm is vile,” he said. “But I think if we start banning people from entering the country because we don’t like what they say, I worry where that ends up.”