The Wireless Festival has been cancelled after the British government blocked headliner Kanye West from entering the United Kingdom, organisers announced.
The Home Office refused West’s Electronic Travel Authorisation application because “his presence would not be conducive to the public good,” following a fierce backlash over the rapper’s history of antisemitic, racist, and pro-Nazi comments.
“As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled, and refunds will be issued to all ticket holders,” organisers said in a statement. They noted that “multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking YE and no concerns were highlighted at the time.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism praised the decision, stating: “The government has clearly made the right decision here. For once, when it said that antisemitism has no place in the UK, it backed up its words with action.”
West had earlier offered to meet with members of the Jewish community, acknowledging that “words aren’t enough” and that he would “have to show change through my actions.” However, Health Secretary Wes Streeting dismissed the apology as “mealy-mouthed and self-serving.”
Festival Republic managing director Melvin Benn had suggested West’s mental health struggles might explain his behaviour, but Jewish groups rejected the defence.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said Benn’s stance would “not reassure many within the Jewish or other communities.”
