Kanye West blocked from travelling to UK by government - Wireless Festival has been cancelled | Euronews

## Summary
By&nbsp David Mouriquand Published on 07/04/2026 - 15:32 GMT+2 • Updated 15:53 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copied Controversial American rapper Kanye 'Ye' West has been blocked from entering the UK to perform at the Wireless music festival after a mounting backlash over his planned summer headline slot. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Following the UK’s Wireless Festival being criticised over the booking of Kanye ‘Ye’ West, and growing backlash over the controversial rapper’s planned headline set this summer, the UK government has blocked the controversial rapper’s permission to travel to Blighty. Related Keir Starmer 'deeply concerned' by upcoming Kanye ‘Ye’ West UK gigs as sponsors pull out of festival Kanye West backlash escalates in UK as festival organiser defends booking - West issues statement Previously, Melvin Benn, the managing director of Festival Republic, which co-promotes Wireless alongside Live Nation, had issued a statement defending West , calling his past comments “abhorrent” but pleading for “forgiveness” and “giving people a second chance”. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Read more Culture news Kanye West backlash intensifies in UK as rapper issues statement Culture news Keir Starmer 'concerned' by Kanye West gigs as sponsors drop festival Culture news Mayor of Marseille opposes Kanye West gig over 'unapologetic Nazism' ban antisemitism United Kingdom Kanye West Music Controversy

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By&nbsp
David Mouriquand
Published on
07/04/2026 - 15:32 GMT+2
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Updated
15:53
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Controversial American rapper Kanye 'Ye' West has been blocked from entering the UK to perform at the Wireless music festival after a mounting backlash over his planned summer headline slot. Now, the 2026 edition of the Wireless Festival has been axed.
The pressure was too strong...
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Following the UK’s Wireless Festival being criticised over the booking of Kanye ‘Ye’ West, and
growing backlash
over the controversial rapper’s planned headline set this summer, the UK government has blocked the controversial rapper’s permission to travel to Blighty.
The Home Office confirmed the ban to the BBC; the government has discretion to ban foreign nationals from the UK if their presence is not considered "conducive to the public good".
Responding to the news, the Wireless Festival issued the following statement: "The Home Office has withdrawn YE's ETA, denying him entry into the United Kingdom. As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket holders."
It continued: "As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking YE and no concerns were highlighted at the time."
"Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had. As YE said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK."
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Une publication partagée par Wireless Festival (@wirelessfest)
Upon hearing the news that West's entry into the UK had been denied, the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) had urged sponsors to continue boycotting the event, following the likes of Pepsi, Diageo, PayPal and Rockstar Energy
all stepping away
.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said in a statement: "The Government has clearly made the right decision here. For once, when it said that antisemitism has no place in the UK, it backed up its words with action.”
"Someone who has boasted of making tens of millions of dollars from selling swastika t-shirts and who released a song called Heil Hitler just months ago clearly would not be conducive to the public good in the UK.”
The statement concluded: "Wireless Festival, in its desperate quest for profit, defended the invitation until the end. That is shameful, and its sponsors should continue to stay away."
No need to boycott, as the festival's 2026 edition is now no more...
Related
Keir Starmer 'deeply concerned' by upcoming Kanye ‘Ye’ West UK gigs as sponsors pull out of festival
Kanye West backlash escalates in UK as festival organiser defends booking - West issues statement
Previously, Melvin Benn, the managing director of Festival Republic, which co-promotes Wireless alongside Live Nation, had
issued a statement defending West
, calling his past comments “abhorrent” but pleading for “forgiveness” and “giving people a second chance”.
West even made a statement, saying he had been "following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly".
"My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music," he said, offering to meet members of the Jewish community in person "to listen". He added: "I know words aren't enough - I'll have to show change through my actions. If you're open, I'm here."
However, those comments weren’t enough and West will not be heading to London this summer.
Kanye West
AP Photo
West’s anti-Semitic remarks began in 2022, when he made a series of offensive comments on social media which ended up getting him booted off both X and Instagram. The musician was
dropped by his talent agency
and fashion brands like Adidas and Balenciaga also
distanced themselves from West
.
West went on to
post a picture of KKK robes
,
rescind his previous apology to the Jewish community
,
declare himself “a Nazi”
and assert that he has
“dominion over his wife”
.
In February 2025, West started
selling swastika t-shirts
, and in May, he
released a song titled ‘Heil Hitler’
, which praised the Nazi leader. This led him to be
stripped of a visa to enter Australia
and faced with
immediate arrest in Brazil
.
West has since apologised for his actions and
took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal
earlier this year in order to apologise for his
past antisemitic comments
, reflecting on a "four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour" and saying that he “lost touch with reality.”
Still, many questioned the timing of his apology, considering the recent release of his new album ‘Bully’, and his past comments have led to various countries banning his performanc

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- The pressure was too strong...

### Areas for Consideration
- Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Read more Culture news Kanye West backlash intensifies in UK as rapper issues statement Culture news Keir Starmer 'concerned' by Kanye West gigs as sponsors drop festival Culture news Mayor of Marseille opposes Kanye West gig over 'unapologetic Nazism' ban antisemitism United Kingdom Kanye West Music Controversy

### Implications
- As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket holders." It continued: "As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking YE and no concerns were highlighted at the time." "Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had.
- That is shameful, and its sponsors should continue to stay away." No need to boycott, as the festival's 2026 edition is now no more...
- West even made a statement, saying he had been "following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly". "My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music," he said, offering to meet members of the Jewish community in person "to listen".
- He added: "I know words aren't enough - I'll have to show change through my actions.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers west, festival, kanye topics. Notable strengths include discussion of west. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 904.