Keir Starmer ‘concerned’ over Kanye West UK festival dates
Keir Starmer ‘concerned’ over Kanye West UK festival dates
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed worry that Kanye West, now known as Ye, will perform at the Wireless Festival in London this summer. The event, which runs from 10 to 12 July, has been labeled “a three-night journey through his most iconic records” by organizers. Starmer’s concerns stem from West’s earlier antisemitic remarks and his association with Nazi imagery, as highlighted in comments reported by the Sun on Sunday.
Pepsi, the headline sponsor of the festival, confirmed it has decided to remove its support for the three-day event. Starmer emphasized,
“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears.”
He added,
“Everyone bears a duty to ensure Britain remains a sanctuary for Jewish people.”
West, 48, was named as the festival’s headliner earlier this week. His past actions, including declaring himself a Nazi in 2023 and selling swastika-themed T-shirts, have drawn criticism. Despite these controversies, the rapper has not performed in the UK since 2015, when he headlined Glastonbury. His latest album, *Bully*, released in March, features three tracks currently in the UK’s top 100 singles chart.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for a ban on West’s entry into the UK, urging stronger measures against antisemitism. He described the rapper’s appearance as “extremely serious.” The Home Office has not yet received a formal request for West’s visa. Last year, he was barred from Australia after a song titled “Heil Hitler” glorified the Nazi leader.
West has issued multiple apologies for his antisemitic comments. In January, he published a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal stating,
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite.”
He attributed his past actions to bipolar disorder, explaining,
“When you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick.”
West also claimed to have lost “touch with reality” during that period.
His social media account faced several bans in 2022 for violating platform rules. This included posts linking a swastika to the Star of David and declaring he would “go death con 3 on Jewish people.” In 2023, he sparked backlash by wearing a “white lives matter” T-shirt at Paris fashion week, prompting Adidas to end their partnership with him.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, representing the UK’s Jewish community, urged the government to block West’s entry. A spokesperson for London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan noted,
“We are clear that this artist’s past comments and actions are offensive and wrong. They do not align with London’s values.”
The mayor’s office clarified it was not involved in the festival’s decision to book West.
