Wireless Festival has been scrapped after Kanye West was refused entry to the United Kingdom, amid controversy surrounding his past antisemitic remarks.
Organisers have confirmed that the long-running, London-based festival will not go ahead this year after the U.S. rapper, who had been due to headline the event, was barred from entering the country by the Home Office.
In a statement released on Tuesday, organisers said, “The Home Office has withdrawn Ye’s ETA (permission to enter), denying him entry into the United Kingdom. As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket-holders.”
They added, “As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking YE and no concerns were highlighted at the time.”
The announcement came shortly after the BBC confirmed that the Home Office had denied Kanye permission to enter the U.K. Officials said the decision was taken on the basis that his presence would not be conducive to the public good.
The rapper had been due to make his live comeback in the U.K. after more than a decade, with plans to headline all three nights of Wireless Festival at London’s Finsbury Park in July.
However, his planned appearances prompted widespread criticism due to a series of antisemitic, pro-Nazi and racist comments and actions in recent years. The backlash also led to festival sponsors including Pepsi and PayPal distancing themselves from the event.
The controversy had escalated in the days leading up to the cancellation, with public criticism intensifying around his involvement in the annual festival.
Earlier on Tuesday, Kanye issued a statement expressing a desire to engage with members of the Jewish community in the U.K., stating, “My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music.”
