UK Prime Minister condemns London festival over Kanye West invitation, leading to loss of key backer

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed concern about planned concerts in London by US rapper Kanye West, who has a history of antisemitic outbursts.

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Campaigners against anti-semitism added their voices to the protests on Sunday and Pepsi, sponsors of the festival concerned, pulled out of the event.

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The disgraced 48-year-old hip-hop star — now known as Ye — is due to play three nights at the Wireless festival in London in July as part of a European comeback tour.

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Starmer told The Sun newspaper on Saturday it was “deeply concerning Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”.

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He added that “antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly”.

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A spokesperson for event sponsor Pepsi told AFP on Sunday that the brand “has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival”, without giving a reason.

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The festival’s operating company, Live Nation, has not so far responded to a request for comment from AFP.

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The appearance of West, who once released a song called “Heil Hitler”, was announced by festival organisers on social media last month, prompting criticism from Jewish organisations and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

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Campaign Against Antisemitism, a British charity, on Sunday urged Starmer not to be a “bystander” and to ban West from entering the country.

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“Surely this is a clear case,” the charity said on X, suggesting West could be banned as a non-citizen whose presence is not “conducive to the public good”.

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West’s European tour has already provoked controversy. In France, the mayor of Marseille said he was “not welcome” for a concert there in June.

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West has expressed regret over his antisemitic rants, which he blamed on his bipolar disorder.

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In May 2025 he released a song called “Heil Hitler” to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

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The song was banned by major streaming platforms.

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am/jj

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