The UK government blocked controversial US rapper Kanye West from entering the country, leading to the cancellation of the music festival he was slated to headline in July 2026 in London.
According to the BBC, the UK decided to block the entry of West, also known as Ye, amid a backlash over his past antisemitic outbursts.
The rapper submitted an application to travel to Britain but it was refused on the grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good, the broadcaster cited the Home Office as saying.
Festival Republic, the organizer of the Wireless music festival, said that the event had been canceled due to West’s entry ban.
“As a result of the Home Office banning Ye from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel,” organizers said on Instagram.
All ticket holders would receive an automatic refund, it added, after the controversy sparked by West’s previous antisemitic outbursts.
The contentious rapper was booked to play all three nights at the Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park, London, in July as part of a European comeback tour.
The London dates were announced by the festival on April 1.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the artist should never have been invited to headline the festival.
“We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values,” he said.
