A nightclub in the United Kingdom hosted a performance by British rapper Wiley despite calls for it to cancel due to the artist’s antisemitic past.
Wiley, whose real name is Richard Kylea Cowie, performed at the Switch nightclub in Preston as part of the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLAN) Preston Freshers 2021 line-up of events.
Despite the widespread calls for his performance to be cancelled, video footage shows the rapper at the event and performing on stage on Saturday to a busy crowd.
Man Waan Rave @SwitchPreston pic.twitter.com/VRCs6cHsNn
— 9️⃣ (@W9Anubis) October 3, 2021
Last year, Grime artist Wiley provoked a storm of outrage when he embarked on a antisemitic tirade online that continued for days. He accused Jewish people of being “racists” and “cowards” and asked if it was antisemitic “to say Jewish people have power”.
He described Jews as “snakes;” and told “black people” to go to “war” with Jewish people.
His posts prompted a 48 hour ‘walk out’ by Twitter users in protest over its failure to act quickly in banning the rapper. The posts led to an eventual ban for Wiley from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram as well as being dumped by his record label and manager.
The UK’s Union of Jewish Students (UJS) said it is "appalling that Switch Preston decided to go ahead with this event, despite outrage from Jewish students over Wiley's previous antisemitic comments.
"The club were fully aware of Wiley's antisemitic conduct, yet arrogantly decided to host this event regardless. This is unacceptable and demonstrates that the safety and wellbeing of Jewish students is of lower importance to them than an event with one of the biggest recording artists to ever grace the Switch stage"
UCLAN’s Student’ Union also called on Switch to cancel Wiley’s performance.
It said, “We condemn all forms of antisemitism and given the previous actions of Wiley, which include a series of antisemitic social media posts, we strongly encourage Switch to cancel this event and reconsider any further ties with Wiley and his management.”
The Students Union also clarified that “although the event is promoted as a UCLan Freshers event, neither the University or the Students’ Union has any involvement in planning, delivering or promoting this event. UCLan Students’ Union sometimes signposts students to external events being run across the city, but we are always clear that these events are external to us and are not run by us. We are also able to confirm that this Switch club night was not one of these events.”
The decision to schedule a performance by Wiley, was also condemned by Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, the vice president for higher education at the National Union of Students (NUS).
She said it “sends a message that antisemitism is tolerated, " adding “we support and welcome the University of Central Lancashire Students’ Union’s and the Union of Jewish Students’ statement on this, and join them in urging Switch nightclub to cancel tomorrow’s event and reconsider their relationship with Wiley moving forward.”
The performance went ahead after an arrest warrant for Wiley was issued after he failed to appear in court to answer assault charges.
A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary told the Post on Friday that the force was aware of the concert and was monitoring the situation.
The spokesman declined to say whether officers in Lancashire had been in contact with police in London where the warrant was issued.
"We are aware of the situation regarding a wanted male," he added.
"The appropriate enquiries are being made."
