The British government was under intense pressure on Monday to bar US rapper Kanye West from entering the country after he was named to headline the Wireless rap and hip-hop festival set to take place in July.
West, now known as Ye, has been criticized in the past for his anti-Semitic remarks and glorification of Nazism, which has resulted in several of his social media accounts, including X, being blocked.
The decision to book Ye led several companies to withdraw their sponsorship of the festival, while the main opposition Conservative Party wrote to the Home Secretary. Shabana Mahmoodasking him to be banned from entering the UK.
A source from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, when asked to discuss the matter, said that the ministers are reviewing his permission to enter the country.
The Home Office does not normally comment on individual cases, but Mahmood has the power to apply for extradition from the UK. In January, the department revoked the Electronic Travel Authorization of Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a Dutch far-right activist, for spreading fake news.
Melvin Benn, managing director at Republic Festival, one of the organizers, defended the decision to headline the event despite his “disgusting” comments, asking the public to forgive him.
Benn said you won’t be given a “platform to pontificate” on stage. He said Ye’s music was played on commercial radio stations in the country and was available via live streams and downloads “without comments or vitriol from anyone”, adding that he “has a legal right to come to the country and perform”.
