Kanye West's right to enter UK under review after festival outcry

Image Curtesy: PA Media

The government is reviewing whether Kanye West should be allowed to enter the UK after a planned appearance by the US rapper at a London festival prompted criticism over his prior antisemitic comments.

 The star, now known as Ye, released a song called Heil Hitler and sold swastika T-shirts last year.  He later apologised and blamed his bipolar disorder's episodes of manic behaviour.

 Brands have withdrawn their sponsorships of Wireless Festival, and critics are calling on its organisers to cancel his appearance and for his visa to be denied.

 Ministers have the power to ban foreign nationals from the UK if their presence is not considered "conducive to the public good".

 It is understood that ministers are considering West's permission to enter the UK.  Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, previously referred to the possibility of him hosting the festival as "deeply concerning." The rapper has already been refused entry to Australia, which cancelled his visa after he released Heil Hitler last May.

 The Conservative Party urged the government to refuse West a visa because "allowing someone with his track record to headline a major public event sends entirely the wrong message".

 Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, stated that West's antisemitic behavior in the past was "not a one-off lapse, but a pattern of behavior that has caused real offence and distress to Jewish communities."

READ MORE: Pepsi withdraws as UK festival sponsor after Kanye West backlash

Bridget Phillipson, the secretary of education, stated that West's previous statements were "completely unacceptable and absolutely disgusting" and that the rapper ought not to participate in the festival. She said, "There is no place for that kind of hatred, bigotry, or antisemitism from him or from anyone else," but she didn't say if the government would block his visa.

Tickets for Wireless Festival are due to go on sale this week (Image: PA Media)

Michael Weiger, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said the UK should refuse West entry.

 He stated, "We think that would be a very appropriate step were the home secretary to find a way to prevent him from entering the country." Melvin Benn, the managing director of Wireless Festival, and its parent company, Festival Republic, were all accused by the Board of Deputies of "profiteering from racism." Benn and Festival Republic have both declined to comment. Stephen Silverman from the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), on the other hand, referred to the arrest as "astonishing."

"It's great that sponsors are now withdrawing their support, but how could it possibly have been considered the right thing to headline an artist who released a music video for a song called Heil Hitler less than a year ago?" he disclosed to BBC Radio 5Live.

Another sponsor pulls out

"It's great that sponsors are now withdrawing their support, but how could it possibly have been considered the right thing to headline an artist who released a music video for a song called Heil Hitler less than a year ago?" He told BBC Radio 5Live that West will headline all three nights of Wireless, which will be held in Finsbury Park from July 10 to July 12 and is anticipated to draw 50,000 people per day. A pre-sale is due to begin on Tuesday, before tickets go on general sale on Wednesday.

 However, the event is in jeopardy due to the withdrawal of several sponsors. Rockstar Energy became the latest brand to withdraw its sponsorship of the event on Monday.  Pepsi, which withdrew from the company on Sunday, owns the energy drink brand. Fellow drinks giant Diageo has removed its support "as it stands", while PayPal will no longer allow its branding to be used on promotional material for the festival.

 Also on Monday, the leader of Haringey Council, which manages the festival's Finsbury Park venue, said she was "deeply disappointed by the decision to book an artist whose comments are at odds with our values in Haringey, particularly given the concerns raised within our large Jewish community".

Peray Ahmet, a council member, stated that the council would work "to ensure public safety and make clear the serious concerns expressed by local residents," but that it could not dictate who would perform. The Mayor of London's office is understood to have previously refused to let West perform at the London Stadium, which is owned by Greater London Authority.

 It is understood that the request was denied due to potential community concerns and London's reputational risk. The Sun reported that Tottenham Hotspur FC also refused to let West perform at their north London stadium.

 West's apologies In recent years, West has made a number of antisemitic and pro-Nazi statements that have sparked outrage. These include declaring that he would go "death con 3 on Jewish people" and posting an image that appeared to show a symbol that combined a swastika and the Star of David. Last year, he also sold swastika T-shirts. In a full-page Wall Street Journal advertisement in January, the rapper offered his apologies, writing, "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite."

He said bipolar disorder meant when "you're manic, you don't think you're sick" and that he had "lost touch with reality".

 "I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state," he added.

Source: BBC