Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, dressed in a full black leather KKK outfit during his interview with DJ Akademiks that was shared on YouTube on March 31, 2025. Photo: Screenshot

i24 News – The planned appearance of Kanye West—now known as Ye—at London’s Wireless Festival this July is drawing mounting criticism from political leaders and advocacy groups across the United Kingdom and Europe.

UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the booking “deeply concerning,” citing the artist’s history of antisemitic remarks and past references to Nazism. Starmer stressed that “antisemitism, in all its forms, is unacceptable and must be firmly confronted.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and several other officials have also voiced concern, while Jewish organizations warned that hosting the artist risks normalizing harmful rhetoric. The backlash has already had commercial consequences, with Pepsi announcing it will withdraw its sponsorship from the event.

The controversy extends beyond the UK. In Marseille, local officials have indicated Ye is not welcome for a scheduled June performance.

West has previously issued apologies for his remarks, at times attributing them to struggles with bipolar disorder. However, scrutiny intensified again in 2025 following the release of a track titled “Heil Hitler,” which was swiftly removed from major streaming platforms.

The Wireless Festival, one of the UK’s largest music events, has not announced any changes to the lineup, and West remains scheduled to perform multiple shows as part of his European tour.