After it was announced that rapper Kanye West will perform at London’s Wireless music festival in July, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer voiced opposition to the decision in an interview published Sunday in The Sun, citing West's virulent antisemitism.
“It is deeply concerning Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism,” Starmer said. “Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.”
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Rapper Kanye West will perform at London’s Wireless music festival in July
(Photo: AP)
At the same time, beverage company Pepsi, the festival’s official sponsor, announced it had “decided to withdraw its funding” from the event, ending a partnership that has been in place since 2015. While Pepsi’s statement did not mention West by name, it was issued hours after Starmer’s remarks condemning the booking.
The announcement that the rapper would headline all three days of the high-profile festival came last week, following the release of his new album, "Bully." While many fans welcomed West’s return to the UK after 11 years, Pepsi was tagged in numerous angry posts on social media protesting his selection as the festival’s sole headliner.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said on Thursday that the government should prevent West from entering the UK, arguing that “we need to strengthen our stance against antisemitism,” and described the planned performances as “deeply concerning.” A spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan also issued a statement saying: “We are very clear that this artist’s past comments and actions are offensive and wrong, and simply do not reflect London’s values. This was a decision made by the festival organizers, not one involving City Hall.”
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the invitation to Kanye West 'disturbing' due to his past antisemitism
(Photo: Frank Augstein\AP)
According to a BBC News report, the Home Office has not yet received West’s request to enter the UK.
In recent years, West has repeatedly made antisemitic statements. Among other actions, he released a shirt featuring a swastika through his fashion line, and in February 2025 posted on the X social media platform after a lengthy hiatus, “I am a Nazi, I love Hitler.” In other posts, he said he would “never trust Jews” and would not “work with Jews,” adding that he had no intention of apologizing.
However, in November 2025 he met with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto and, according to reports, did apologize for his antisemitic remarks. “I was dealing with various issues, including bipolar disorder. I took my ideas to the extreme and forgot about protecting the people around me, and myself. So I wanted to take responsibility… Sometimes people don’t really understand bipolar disorder, what causes it, or how it affects your behavior. You have this illness. It’s like you left your house and your child stayed behind and made a mess of the kitchen, the garage and the living room. When you come back, it’s your responsibility because it’s your child. That’s how I see it, like I need to clean up the kitchen, the living room and the garage.”
In January, West published another apology in a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal. “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” he wrote, explaining that bipolar disorder means “you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick,” and that he had “lost touch with reality.” “I deeply regret and am ashamed of my actions,” he added.
West is currently promoting his new album "Bully," released last week, and recently performed two sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where he hosted Lauryn Hill, Travis Scott and others. “I want to thank all of you who supported me all these years — in the hard times, in the low times,” he told the audience. “I love you for that.”
As of now, West remains listed as the festival’s headliner on its official website, as does Pepsi as the main sponsor. Ticket sales for the event, scheduled for July 10–12, are set to begin on Tuesday.