Starmer Expresses Concern Over Kanye West’s UK Festival Headlining
Sir Keir Starmer, the UK’s Prime Minister, has voiced alarm over Kanye West’s upcoming performance at the Wireless Festival in London this summer. West, who is now known as Ye, has been widely criticized for his antisemitic remarks in recent years, including an apology he issued in January. Starmer highlighted these comments in remarks first shared by the Sun on Sunday, stating that West was booked “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.”
Pepsi’s Sponsorship Withdrawal
Following Starmer’s concerns, Pepsi, the festival’s headline sponsor, announced its decision to withdraw support from the three-day event. The company’s move came after Starmer emphasized that “antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears.” He also stressed that “everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.”
Political Reactions
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for stricter measures against antisemitism, suggesting the government should ban West from entering the UK. He described the planned appearance as “extremely serious.” Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued that “we are seeing a huge increase in antisemitism all across the world” and stated that “we need to do everything we can in order to stop the rise in hatred of Jewish people.” She added that this includes “not platforming people who make antisemitic statements or who put out anything that will incite violence and hatred towards Jews.”
West’s Past Controversies
Kanye West, 48, was blocked from entering Australia last year after releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler,” which glorified the Nazi leader. He also declared himself a Nazi earlier in the year, retracting an earlier apology over antisemitic comments. Additionally, he sold T-shirts with swastikas on his clothing website. In 2022, his X account was banned multiple times for posts that violated platform rules, including a tweet combining a swastika and the Star of David with a claim that he would “go death con 3 on Jewish people.”
Recent Apologies and Context
West reportedly met with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yoseph Pinto in November 2025, where he apologized for past antisemitic comments. He later published a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal in January, writing, “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite.” He attributed his earlier actions to bipolar disorder, explaining that “when you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick” and that he “lost touch with reality” during those episodes, adding that he “regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state.”
Industry and Public Response
West’s “white lives matter” T-shirt appearance at Paris fashion week in 2022 drew criticism, leading clothing brand Adidas to end their partnership with him. The rapper has not performed in the UK since 2015, when he headlined Glastonbury. His latest album, Bully, released in March, features three songs currently in the UK’s top 100 singles chart. The Wireless Festival, running from 10-12 July, is marketing the event as a “three-night journey through his most iconic records.”
Festival’s Stance and Organizers’ Comments
A spokesperson for London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said, “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 decision to book West was made by the festival organizers, with no involvement from City Hall. Festival Republic, the Wireless organizers, and West’s representatives have yet to provide further comment on the situation.
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” he wrote. “I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state.”
