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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed serious concern over the decision to have Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, as the headline performer for this summer’s Wireless Festival in London. The American rapper, aged 48, has been at the center of controversy due to numerous antisemitic remarks he has made in recent years. Although West issued an apology in January, his inclusion in the festival lineup has sparked significant backlash.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that West would be headlining the rap and R&B festival, which runs for three days in north London. Responding to the announcement, Sir Keir criticized the decision, pointing out that West was booked “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.” He emphasized the importance of confronting antisemitism in all its forms, stating, “Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears.” He further highlighted the collective responsibility to ensure safety for Jewish communities in Britain.
The issue has also drawn comments from other political figures. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged the government to prevent West from entering the UK, calling the situation “extremely serious” and underscoring the need for stronger measures against antisemitism. West’s history includes being denied entry to Australia last year following the release of a song titled “Heil Hitler,” which glorified the Nazi leader. He has at times retracted apologies and even proclaimed himself a Nazi, alongside selling merchandise bearing swastikas. Notably, in November 2025, West met with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto and reportedly apologized for his past antisemitic behavior.
Despite the controversies, West made a public apology in January through a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal, denying that he is a Nazi or antisemite. He explained that his actions were influenced by bipolar disorder and moments of mania, saying, “I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state.” His social media presence has also been problematic; his X account faced multiple bans in 2022 for posts deemed offensive, including imagery combining a swastika with the Star of David and threatening language. That year, he drew further criticism for wearing a “white lives matter” T-shirt during Paris Fashion Week. While West has not performed in the UK since 2015, when he headlined Glastonbury, three songs from his recent album Bully, released in March, have charted in the UK’s top 100 singles.
The Wireless Festival, scheduled for 10-12 July, presents West’s performances as “a three night journey through his most iconic records.” The controversy has also reached prominent Jewish organizations, with the Board of Deputies of British Jews calling for West to be banned from entering the country. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan condemned West’s previous comments and actions as offensive and contrary to London’s values but noted that the festival organizers, not City Hall, made the booking decision. Festival Republic, the company behind Wireless, has not yet commented on the situation
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