Rapper who has previously made antisemitic remarks responds to criticism over his booking at London festival
The rapper formerly known as Kanye West has broken his silence and offered to “meet and listen” to members of the UK’s Jewish community after a fierce backlash over his booking at London’s Wireless festival.
West, who is legally known as Ye, has been criticised for making antisemitic remarks including voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler. Last year he released a song called Heil Hitler, a few months after advertising a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.
His planned appearance has been condemned by MPs and Jewish organisations who have urged the government to ban him from the country. The health secretary, Wes Streeting, said the rapper should not be headlining the festival.
On Tuesday, Ye released a statement addressing the furore, in which he offered to meet the UK’s Jewish community. In January, West took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal apologising for his antisemitic behaviour and attributing his inflammatory actions to his bipolar-1 disorder.
