The promoter behind Wireless Festival has firmly defended Kanye West's “legal right to perform” in the UK, following widespread calls for the artist to be barred from entering the country due to past antisemitic comments.
The controversial rapper is scheduled to headline all three nights of the festival in London’s Finsbury Park this July.
Melvin Benn, managing director at Festival Republic, which organises the popular music event, characterised himself as a "deeply committed anti-fascist" and a "person of forgiveness" in a statement addressing the controversy.
Mr Benn unequivocally condemned West's previous remarks, stating: "What Ye has said in the past about Jews and Hitler is as abhorrent to me as it is to the Jewish community, the Prime Minister and others that have commented and – taking him at his word – to Ye now also."
He further argued that Ye's music is routinely played on commercial radio stations and is readily available via streaming and downloads across the UK without public outcry. Consequently, Mr Benn asserted, the artist possesses a "legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country."
He clarified the festival's intent, emphasising: "We are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions." Concluding his statement, Mr Benn appealed for a broader perspective, suggesting that "forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world and I would ask people to reflect."
Sir Keir Starmer has labelled the decision to book West “deeply concerning”, while several major sponsors have already withdrawn their support from the event.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood is now facing pressure from politicians and the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) to deny West entry, arguing his presence would not be “conducive to the public good”.
It is understood that ministers are currently reviewing West’s permission to enter the UK. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp urged Ms Mahmood to utilise her powers under the Immigration Act, stating that West was “guilty of appalling antisemitic and pro-Nazi comments”.
He said: “She says she wants to fight antisemitism.
“We will now find out how serious she really is.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the CAA said the prime minister had been right to express concern about Wireless’s decision to book West, but added that Sir Keir was “not a bystander”.
The group said: “The government can ban anyone from entering the UK who is not a citizen and whose presence would ‘not be conducive to the public good’.
“Surely this is a clear case.”
Labour backbencher Rachael Maskell has also called for West to be banned, saying he “should not be allowed to come to our country to perform in the light of the antisemitic comments that he has made and recorded”.
Pepsi and Diageo withdrew their sponsorship of the festival after West was announced as the headline act, while PayPal, a payment partner for the annual rap and hip-hop festival, will not appear in any of its future promotional materials, the Press Association understands.
West, who has not performed in the UK since he headlined Glastonbury in 2015, has drawn widespread criticism in recent years after he began voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler, and has made a series of antisemitic remarks.
Last year, he released a song called Heil Hitler a few months after advertising a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.
The musician, also known as Ye, has been barred from X over antisemitism on multiple occasions.
It is understood that the mayor of London’s office refused permission for the London Stadium in Stratford to stage a West concert this summer, with sources citing community concerns and the reputational impact on the city.
The Home Office has been approached for comment.
The 48-year-old rapper’s scheduled appearance comes amid fears of growing antisemitism in the UK.
In March, four ambulances from a Jewish community-run service were set on fire in northwest London.
Two men and a 17-year-old boy were remanded in custody on Saturday after appearing in court accused of torching the vehicles.
In October last year, two men were killed in an attack on a Manchester synagogue.
Jewish community organisations have criticised the festival, with Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, calling it the “wrong decision” and asking the government to consider barring him from entering the country.
In January, West took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal to apologise, titled: “To Those I’ve Hurt.”
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it said.
“I love Jewish people.”
In the letter, he said his bipolar disorder led him to fall into “a four-month-long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life”.
Wireless Festival has been contacted for comment.
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