British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed concern about planned concerts in London by US rapper Kanye West, who has a history of antisemitic outbursts.<\/p>\n
Campaigners against anti-semitism added their voices to the protests on Sunday and Pepsi, sponsors of the festival concerned, pulled out of the event.<\/p>\n
The disgraced 48-year-old hip-hop star \u2014 now known as Ye \u2014 is due to play three nights at the Wireless festival in London in July as part of a European comeback tour.<\/p>\n
Starmer told The Sun newspaper on Saturday it was \u201cdeeply concerning Kanye West\u00a0has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added that \u201cantisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly\u201d.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for event sponsor Pepsi told AFP on Sunday that the brand \u201chas decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival\u201d, without giving a reason.<\/p>\n
The festival\u2019s operating company, Live Nation, has not so far responded to a request for comment from AFP.<\/p>\n
The appearance of West, who once released a song called \u201cHeil Hitler\u201d, was announced by festival organisers on social media last month, prompting criticism from Jewish organisations and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.<\/p>\n
Campaign Against Antisemitism, a British charity, on Sunday urged Starmer not to be a \u201cbystander\u201d and to ban West from entering the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cSurely this is a clear case,\u201d the charity said on X, suggesting West could be banned as a non-citizen whose presence is not \u201cconducive to the public good\u201d.<\/p>\n
West\u2019s European tour has already provoked controversy. In France, the mayor of Marseille said he was \u201cnot welcome\u201d for a concert there in June.<\/p>\n
West has expressed regret over his antisemitic rants, which he blamed on his bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
In May 2025 he released a song called \u201cHeil Hitler\u201d to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.<\/p>\n
The song was banned by major streaming platforms.<\/p>\n
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