US Edition
Wireless Festival Slammed as 'Deeply Irresponsible' over Kanye West Booking
The mayor and Jewish leaders said the three-night booking is deeply irresponsible as West faces renewed criticism for antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks.
- On Monday, Festival Republic announced that Grammy-winning rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, will headline all three nights of Wireless Festival 2026 at Finsbury Park in London from July 10-12.
- Jewish organizations and London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the booking as "deeply irresponsible," citing Ye's history of antisemitic rhetoric, including praising Adolf Hitler and selling T-shirts featuring swastikas.
- Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told the BBC that booking Ye was "absolutely the wrong decision" and could inflame rising antisemitism in the United Kingdom.
- The announcement follows the release of Ye's 12th studio album, Bully, last week. In January 2026, the rapper issued a public apology in The Wall Street Journal, citing "medical oversight" and bipolar type-1.
- Campaign Against Antisemitism noted that Ye's cycle of apology and relapse has become routine, stating venues should reconsider providing their platform while the musician's commitment to change remains unproven.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Kanye West Is Set To Headline A Super Popular UK Festival, And People Have A Lot Of Thoughts
“If a woman did this she’d be shunned from the industry forever,” one person tweeted, while others pointed out that women like Chappell Roan and Zara Larsson recently lost out on huge opportunities over things that hardly warranted backlash.View Entire Post ›
London in Uproar After Kanye West Announced for Major Festival
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, is distancing himself from Kanye West’s upcoming return to London after the rapper was announced as the headliner for this summer’s Wireless Festival. West, who now goes by Ye, is scheduled to perform three nights in a row at North London’s Finsbury Park on July 10, 11, and 12, making the appearance his first London concert in more than a decade. Following backlash over the announcement, a spokesperson for Khan s…
Sadiq Khan issues stern statement as London Mayor condemns UK festival's decision to book Kanye West
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has condemned Wireless Festival's decision to book Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, as the headline act for all three nights of this summer's event
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
