Wireless Festival cancelled as Kanye West blocked from entering UK amid backlash

West, who goes by the name Ye, had been set to return to the UK stage for the first time since 2015 at the July festival.

The decision to include him in the line-up was met with fierce criticism, with Jewish leaders and MPs from across the political spectrum, calling for him to be stopped from performing and blocked from the country.

Yesterday, following days of mounting pressure for Wireless to rescind the invitation to West, the boss of Festival Republic, which runs the event, issued a statement defending the rapper and claiming he deserved forgiveness.

Now, however, the promoter has called off the entire festival. In a statement, the organisation said: "The Home Office has withdrawn Ye's ETA [electronic travel authorisation], denying him entry into the United Kingdom. As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket holders.

"As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking Ye and no concerns were highlighted at the time.”

It added: "Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had. As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK."

The announcement came almost immediately after the Home Office confirmed West would not be permitted to enter the country.

It said in a statement: “Kanye West made an application to travel to the UK yesterday via an Electronic Travel Authorisation.

“The Government has blocked West’s permission to travel and he does not hold a valid ETA.

“The decision was made on the grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “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, who apologised in an advert in the Washington Post in January had offered to meet members of the Jewish community ahead of Wireless saying he “would be grateful... following the conversation around Wireless.

“My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music,” he said.

“I know words aren't enough – I'll have to show change through my actions. If you're open, I'm here.”

But Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said in response: “It has been less than a year since Kanye West released a song entitled Heil Hitler, the culmination of three years of appalling antisemitism. He also made a number of deeply offensive comments about the black community, saying that the 400-year experience of slavery was ‘like a choice’.

“Even while claiming remorse, his latest album includes a track first released last year with the abhorrent title Gas Chamber. The Jewish community will want to see a genuine remorse and change before believing that the appropriate place to test this sincerity is on the main stage at the Wireless Festival.”

Several sponsors had pulled out of Wireless over the West booking, including Pepsi, Diageo, PayPal and InBev, the maker of Budweiser.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had also expressed “concern” over the booking.

In his previous statement, the managing director of Festival Republic, Melvin Benn, said: "I would ask people to reflect on their instant comments of disgust at the likelihood of him performing (as was mine) and offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do.”