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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed concerns over US rapper Kanye West's upcoming performance in the country. This comes after the 48-year-old rapper has stoked several controversies in the past over his antisemitic remarks
A file image of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer(Bloomberg)Days after US rapper Kanye West was announced as the headliner for all nights of the Wireless Festival this year, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday (local time) said it is "deeply concerning" that he is set to perform, the Sun reported.
West, who is now known as Ye, has drawn widespread criticism over antisemitic comments that he has made in the last few years, for which he issued an apology in January 2026.
Reacting to West's upcoming performance, Starmer said that the US rapper has been booked "despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism." He noted, “Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears.”
He further said that everyone has a responsibility to ensure that Britain is a place where Jews feel safe. Starmer's stance comes at a time when the UK is reporting high tension among Jews, following a spate of antisemitic attacks. This included the shooting of two men at a Synagogue in Manchester in October last year.
According to a BBC report, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, earlier on Thursday, said that the UK government should ban West from entering the country, stating that they "need to get tougher on antisemitism". He even called West's planned visit to the country "extremely serious."
The report further stated that the Home Office hasn't yet received an application for West's entry into the country.
West's antisemitic remarks
This isn't the first time that West's remarks have stirred controversy. In 2025, he was blocked from entering Australia following the release of his song titled "Heil Hitler," which glorified the Nazi leader.
The 48-year-old rapper declared himself a Nazi earlier in 2025 and later withdrew an apology he issued for his antisemitic remarks. Additionally, he sold T-shirts that featured swastikas on his clothing website.
Back in November 2025, he also held a meeting with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, where he reportedly apologised for his previous remarks against Jews. In January this year, West released a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal and apologised for his antisemitic behaviour.
In the advertisement, West wrote, "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite." He went on to say that bipolar disorder can make a person unaware of their illness during manic episodes, adding that he had “lost touch with reality.”
West's X account banned in 2022
In 2022, his X account was banned multiple times for posts that violated the platform's rules. The ban was imposed after he posted a couple of offensive tweets, which included an image that seemingly showed a symbol combining a swastika and the Star of David, and saying he would go “death con 3 On Jewish people.”
West's UK tour
The tour will be his first in the UK since 2015, when he headlined Glastonbury. Commenting on West's comeback, the festival organiser noted that his comeback will be an extraordinary chapter in Wireless's story. Scheduled from 10 to 12 July, the rapper will perform songs spanning his entire discography during his appearance at Finsbury Park.
About the Author
Swati Gandhi
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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