Christopher BarrettFestival Republic has cancelled Wireless Festival following the Home Office’s withdrawal of Ye’s (aka Kanye West) Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), denying him entry into the United Kingdom.
The Live Nation-owned promoter said the 10-12 July festival in London’s Finsbury Park had now been called off and refunds will be issued to all ticket holders.
Festival Republic said, “As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking Ye and no concerns were highlighted at the time.
“Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had. As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.”
The Home Office said that allowing West to enter the UK and perform at the 49,000-capacity festival was “not conducive to the public good”.
The US-based rapper was due to headline all three days of Wireless but the announcement angered many, including event sponsors, politicians including Keir Starmer, and Jewish organisations. West had previously made a series of antisemitic remarks, and even released a song entitled Heil Hitler.
Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn had defended the move to book the rapper, stating that he was a deeply committed anti-fascist: “We are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions.”
Earlier today, Ye issued a statement in which he said he intended his Wireless performances to “bring unity, peace and love”, and offered to meet representatives of the Jewish community.
The move to cancel Wireless is expected to have a significant economic impact on all involved in the event, including suppliers. In 2023, Haringey Council signed a five-year agreement with the festival giant to host Wireless Festival in the North London park, reporting that it receives around £1.2 million from major events each year.
Benn was interviewed at length for the AAA Backstage podcast, in which he discusses starting out in the early 1980s as a promoter working on left-wing political festivals and setting up the Workers Beer Company.