Kanye West has offered to meet with the Jewish community in the U.K. as the backlash against him performing at London’s Wireless Festival intensifies. The rapper, who goes by Ye, is set to headline three nights at the festival this summer.
While West recently apologized for his past behavior and antisemitic statements, Wireless’ decision has still drawn sharp rebukes from politicians and sponsors. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan both condemned the booking, and the BBC reported that some ministers are looking into whether to even grant West permission to enter the U.K. Additionally, Pepsi, Rockstar Energy, and the beverage giant Diageo have pulled out as sponsors of Wireless 2026.
In a statement, West responded, “I’ve been following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly. My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music. I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen. I know words aren’t enough—I’ll have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.”
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the largest Jewish organization in the U.K., said the group was “willing” to meet with Ye under specific conditions.
“Even while claiming remorse today, his latest album includes a track first released last year with the abhorrent title ‘Gas Chamber,’” Rosenberg said in a statement (via The Guardian). “The Jewish community will want to see a genuine remorse and change before believing that the appropriate place to test this sincerity is on the main stage at the Wireless festival. As such, we are willing to meet Kanye West as part of his journey of healing, but only after he agrees not to play the Wireless festival this year.”
West’s statement comes only hours after Festival Republic boss Melvin Benn, who green lit the booking, condemned West’s comments but defended the planned performance. In a statement shared with Rolling Stone, Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, called on critics to offer Ye “forgiveness and hope,” saying, “Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world.”
Despite the pushback, Benn’s statement seemed to suggest that Wireless would not alter its lineup. Alluding to West’s apology, in which the rapper tied his antisemitic outbursts to his battle with bipolar disorder, Benn said that, for the past 15 years, he’s had a person in his life who also “suffers from mental illness.” Benn added that he had witnessed “many episodes of despicable behavior that I have had to forgive and move on from.”
Ye recently returned to the stage with two nights at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to coincide with the release of his new album, Bully. Along with Wireless, he has upcoming shows scheduled in India, Turkey, and several major European cities.
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