American rapper Kanye West, popularly known as Ye, has responded to growing criticism over his scheduled headline performance at the Wireless Festival in London, United Kingdom (UK), from July 10 to 12, 2026.
The controversy began after the festival announced on March 30 that West would headline all three nights at Finsbury Park, sparking backlash over his past antisemitic comments.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the booking as troubling. “It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism,” he said.
Several sponsors, including Rockstar Energy, Pepsi, and Diageo, have pulled support from the festival amid the criticism.
In a statement released Tuesday, West addressed the backlash, saying his goal is to “come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through music.”
He also expressed willingness to meet with members of the UK Jewish community. “I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen. I know words aren’t enough, I’ve had to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here. With love,” he said.
Wireless Festival Managing Director Melvin Benn defended the decision to keep West as a performer, emphasizing that his appearance would be limited to music. “What Ye has said in the past about Jews and Hitler is as abhorrent to me as it is to the Jewish community, the prime minister and others who have commented,” Benn said.
“Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing, divisive world.” He added, “We are not giving him a platform to extol opinions of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country.”
The Jewish community has responded with conditions. Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said engagement with West would only be possible if he withdraws from the festival.
“It has been less than a year since Kanye West released a song entitled ‘Heil Hitler’, the culmination of three years of appalling antisemitism,” Rosenberg said. “The Jewish community will want to see genuine remorse and change before believing that the appropriate place to test this sincerity is on the main stage at the Wireless Festival.”
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting also criticised the booking. “Kanye West has no business headlining the Wireless Festival. I think organisers showed a terrible error of judgement in inviting him,” he said. He warned that West’s previous remarks reflect a broader pattern.
“Antisemitism is serious, it can be deadly, and people like Kanye West… have to accept the responsibility that comes with that. And I don’t think he has,” Streeting added.
The debate continues as pressure mounts on UK authorities to decide whether West should be allowed entry to perform.
