After the British government banned rapper Kanye West from entering the country, the Wireless festival was canceled entirely, considering he was the headliner of the event.
Controversial American rapper Kanye West was announced last week as the headliner for all three days of the festival, which was due to take place in July, with his performances billed as a three-day journey through his most famous hits. However, the decision has sparked a number of negative reactions from the public, including from the British Prime Minister, who said it was "deeply concerning that Kanye West has been hired despite his previous anti-Semitic statements and glorification of Nazism".
Additional pressure on the festival organizers was exerted by sponsors, including Pepsi, Diageo, PayPal and Rockstar Energy, who decided to end their cooperation.
The UK Home Office confirmed that West had applied to enter the UK on 6 April using an Electronic Travel Authorisation, but his application was refused, citing that his presence was "not in the public interest".
As a result, all of his planned performances were canceled, and organizers announced that the festival would be canceled in its entirety, with refunds for all ticket buyers.
"The Home Office has withdrawn Yeo's ETA permit, barring him from entering the United Kingdom. As a result, the Wireless Festival has been cancelled and all attendees will receive a refund," the statement said.
The organizers added that they consulted with multiple relevant parties before hiring the contractor and that no problems were identified at that time.
"Anti-Semitism in all its forms is unacceptable and we are aware of the real and personal consequences that such issues carry. As Ye stated today, he is aware that words are not enough and hopes that in the future he will have the opportunity to begin a dialogue with the Jewish community in the UK," the organizers added in their address.
The government's decision was also supported by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, emphasizing that this time the state acted in accordance with its positions.
"The government made the right decision. When it said that anti-Semitism has no place in the United Kingdom, it proved it with action," they said.
They also recall previous controversies, including the sale of T-shirts with Nazi symbols and a song called "Heil Hitler," stating that such behavior is not in the public interest.
Meanwhile, West has spoken out again about the whole situation, issuing a new apology through an amended letter "to those he has hurt," which he originally published in January.
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