UPDATED with cancellation: The UK’s Wireless Festival has been canceled over the Kanye West saga.
“‘As a result of the Home Office banning Ye from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel,” a statement from the music festival read Monday. “All ticket holders will receive an automatic full refund.”
West, who now goes by Ye, was due to headline Wireless in July but earlier Tuesday was blocked from entering the UK by the government over his previous antisemitic hate speech. Last year, he was denied a visa to enter Australia.
Sponsors including Pepsi and Diageo have pulled out of Wireless due to West’s involvement, but today’s Wireless statement added that “multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking Ye and no concerns were highlighted at the time.”
UPDATED 5:42 a.m. PT: Kanye West has been blocked from traveling to the UK for a festival headline slot.
West has been refused permission for an Electronic Travel Authorisation visa due to his presence not being conducive to the public good, the Home Office told BBC News. He was last year denied a visa to enter Australia.
West is due to headline London’s Wireless Festival in July. His headline slot has sparked outrage among Jewish groups, reaching the upper echelons of UK government.
PREVIOUSLY: A Kanye West festival appearance is causing chaos in the UK.
The controversial singer, who has been lambasted for months for antisemitic outbursts at a time of heightened tension, Tuesday morning said he “would be grateful” to meet members of the Jewish community as he brings a message of “change, unity, peace, and love through my music.”
West, who now goes by Ye, said he had 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,” he added. “I know words aren’t enough – I’ll have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.”
Melvin Benn, who runs Wireless organizer Festival Republic, has defended the decision, encouraging people to offer “forgiveness.” Sponsors including Pepsi and Diageo withdrew sponsorship of the fest Monday.
In January, Ye took out an ad in the Wall Street Journal to plead for forgiveness after his antisemitic rampage in 2025. Ye said he suffered a “four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life.” During that period, Ye sold $20 shirts with swastikas and made numerous antisemitic posts including declaring himself to be a Nazi.
Last week, Ye performed a sold-out comeback show in L.A., which drew high-profile support and plenty backlash.
