The announcement of Kanye West’s Wireless Festival headline slot in the UK has been met with backlash, including by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The rapper, who now goes by Ye, is set to return to London for the first time in 11 years, headlining all three nights of the festival at Finsbury Park this July. In a statement to Rolling Stone, a spokesperson for the Mayor slammed the bookin.
“We are clear that the past comments and actions of this artist are offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values,” the statement reads. “This was a decision taken by the festival organisers and not one that City Hall is involved in.”
The Jewish Leadership Council echoed the Mayor’s sentiment, calling the booking “deeply irresponsible” in a statement to The Guardian.
“West has repeatedly used his platform to spread antisemitism and pro-Nazi messaging … Any venue or festival should reconsider before providing their platform to Kanye West to spread his antisemitism,” a spokesperson added.
The controversy follows a series of antisemitic outbursts from Ye, including his 2025 track ‘Heil Hitler’. While he has since apologised for his past controversial statements, the booking has still drawn significant condemnation. Singer and actor Benjamin Haim-Isaac told BBC Newsbeat that the decision “really makes you question whether the people who are organising this festival actually support the Jewish community.”
Despite the uproar, the festival’s website is promoting the event as a triumphant return, stating, “11 years later, Ye returns to London for a three night journey through his most iconic records.”
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The booking comes after West releases his 12th studio album, Bully, his first full-length project in four years. Representatives for Wireless Festival have not yet commented publicly on the backlash.
