London’s Wireless Festival canceled after U.K. bars Ye over antisemitism

London’s Wireless Festival has been canceled after the British government denied entry to Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, over his long record of antisemitic statements and conduct.

Ye applied to travel to the U.K. via an Electronic Travel Authorization on Monday, but officials blocked the application. The Home Office denied the application on the grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good.

Festival Republic, a division of Live Nation, announced the cancellation Tuesday, saying the Home Office had withdrawn Ye’s electronic travel authorization and that refunds would be issued to all ticket holders.

Ye had been announced as the headliner for all three days of the July festival, scheduled for July 10–12 at Finsbury Park in north London. He was the only artist announced, and tickets were set to go on pre-sale the same day the ban was announced.

The booking had sparked significant backlash. Presenting partner Pepsi, which had co-branded the event for over a decade, confirmed its withdrawal, followed by Diageo and Rockstar Energy. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among those expressing opposition, calling it “deeply concerning” that Ye had been booked to perform “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.”

Earlier Tuesday, Ye issued a last-minute statement offering to engage with the U.K.’s Jewish community.

“My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music,” he said, adding that he would be “grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the U.K. in person, to listen.”

The gesture did not satisfy Jewish community groups. The Board of Deputies of British Jews said it was willing to meet with Ye, but only after he agreed not to play the festival, noting that his latest album still includes a track called “Gas Chamber.”

The rapper has drawn condemnation for voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler and last year released a song called “Heil Hitler,” a few months after selling merchandise bearing a swastika. Earlier this year, Ye took out a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal apologizing for his past actions and attributing them to his bipolar disorder. Last year, Australia canceled his visa after the release of that song.

Festival Republic managing director Melvin Benn had argued on Monday that Ye should be afforded “forgiveness,” saying the rapper’s music was already widely played on British radio and streaming services and that the festival was not giving him a platform for his views.