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LONDON — The United Kingdom has officially barred Kanye West from entering the country, citing his history of antisemitic rhetoric and glorification of Nazism. The decision forced the cancellation of the Wireless Festival, one of London's biggest summer music events, where West had been announced as the headliner.

The Home Office withdrew West's electronic travel authorization, stating that his presence in the United Kingdom would not be conducive to the public good. The decision came after intense public backlash and pressure from Jewish organizations, political leaders, and advocacy groups across the country.

A Pattern Of Antisemitism That Crossed Every Line

West's descent into open antisemitism has been well documented over the past several years. In 2022, he made headlines for declaring he would go "death con 3" on Jewish people and spread conspiracy theories about Jewish control of media and finance. He was dropped by multiple corporate partners including Adidas, which terminated its lucrative Yeezy partnership.

But rather than retreating from the rhetoric, West escalated dramatically. In 2025, he released a song titled "Heil Hitler" and began selling swastika-emblazoned T-shirts through his Yeezy website. He praised Adolf Hitler in multiple interviews and social media posts, calling him a visionary and a misunderstood leader.

It was these escalations that ultimately triggered the UK government's decision. British officials had been monitoring the situation for months, and when Festival Republic announced West as the Wireless headliner for July 2026, the backlash was immediate and overwhelming.

UK Prime Minister Slams The Decision To Book West

Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a forceful statement condemning the decision to invite West in the first place. He posted on X that West should never have been invited to headline Wireless, adding that his government stands firmly with the Jewish community and will not stop in its fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.

The statement marked a rare direct intervention by a sitting prime minister into a music festival booking decision, reflecting the severity with which the UK government views West's conduct.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the travel ban, saying the government has a responsibility to prevent individuals who promote hatred and extremism from using the UK as a platform to spread their ideology.

Festival Republic Cancels Wireless Entirely

Festival Republic, the events company that organizes Wireless Festival, announced the complete cancellation of the three-day event rather than attempting to find a replacement headliner. The festival had been scheduled for July at London's Crystal Palace Park.