London has refused entry to American rapper Kanye West, citing public interest concerns, just weeks before he was due to headline London’s Wireless Festival. The decision comes amid ongoing controversy over West’s provocative statements and past antisemitic remarks.
The UK Home Office has formally barred American rapper Kanye West from entering the country, according to a source within the department. West had planned to perform at the Wireless Festival in London this summer, but his visa application was rejected. Officials said that his presence was deemed “not conducive to the public good.”
Earlier reports indicated that several companies withdrew sponsorship from Wireless after learning that West would headline the event. The festival is scheduled for July at Finsbury Park in London, with the rapper slated to perform across three consecutive days. West last appeared at a UK festival in 2015, when he performed at Glastonbury.
In recent years, Kanye West has repeatedly drawn public attention for controversial statements regarding Nazism and slavery, often accompanied by the use of Nazi imagery. Notably, in May 2025, he released a track containing a refrain featuring a Nazi salute.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concern over the rapper’s invitation to Wireless Festival, citing his history of antisemitic comments and support for Nazi ideology.
In response to the backlash, Kanye West has expressed a desire to meet with representatives of the UK Jewish community. The Board of Deputies of British Jews indicated interest in such a dialogue but emphasised that the rapper must first withdraw from the festival before any meeting can take place.
