Keir Starmer ‘concerned’ over Kanye West UK festival dates

Keir Starmer ‘concerned’ over Kanye West UK festival dates

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed worry that Kanye West, now known as Ye, will perform at the Wireless Festival in London this summer. The American rapper, 48, has been confirmed as the main act for all three days of the event, sparking debate about his recent controversial remarks. West, who has faced criticism for antisemitic statements over the years, apologized in January for his comments, but Starmer called the decision to book him “deeply concerning.”

Antisemitism and Recent Actions

Starmer highlighted West’s past antisemitic behavior and his association with Nazi symbolism, stating that the rapper’s actions “must be confronted firmly wherever they appear.” He emphasized the importance of ensuring Jewish communities feel secure in Britain. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged the government to take stricter measures against West, calling his appearance “extremely serious” and suggesting a ban on his entry into the UK.

“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears,” Sir Keir said. “Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.”

According to BBC News, the Home Office has not yet processed an application for West’s UK visit. This follows his previous ban from Australia after releasing a track titled “Heil Hitler,” which celebrated Nazi ideology. In 2022, West also declared himself a Nazi, retracting an earlier apology for antisemitic remarks, and sold shirts with swastika designs through his online store.

Despite recent efforts to reconcile, West’s past actions remain a point of contention. In November 2025, he met with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto and reportedly apologized for his earlier comments. He later published a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal, asserting, “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” and attributing his behavior to bipolar disorder, which he described as causing “loss of touch with reality.”

Controversies and Industry Reactions

West’s social media account was suspended multiple times in 2022 for violating rules with posts like a symbol merging the swastika and Star of David, accompanied by the phrase “death con 3 on Jewish people.” He also drew backlash for wearing a “white lives matter” T-shirt during Paris fashion week, leading to his partnership with Adidas ending. His last UK performance was in 2015 at Glastonbury, and his latest album, *Bully*, released in March, features three tracks within the UK’s top 100 singles chart.

Organizers of Wireless Festival, Festival Republic, have not yet commented on the matter. However, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, representing Jewish communities, urged BBC Newsnight to block West’s entry. A spokesperson for London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan added, “The artist’s past comments are offensive and wrong, and do not reflect London’s values. This was a choice made by the festival organizers, not City Hall.”