LONDON  –  This summer’s Wireless Festival has been cancelled after headliner Kanye West was blocked from coming to the UK. The government refused permission for West, now known as Ye, to travel to the UK after backlash to his planned set at the London festival this summer. For the last several years, West has caused outrage for a string of antisemitic, racist and pro-Nazi comments. In a statement, Wireless Festival said: “The Home Office has withdrawn Ye’s ETA, denying him entry into the United Kingdom. As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket holders.”  It continued: “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.”  Presale tickets for Wireless Festival were released at midday on Tuesday and are believed to have sold out, while the general sale was due to open at midday on Wednesday. Earlier on Tuesday, the Home Office told the BBC the rapper made an application to travel to the UK on Monday via an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

It said the decision to refuse permission was made on the grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good.  Visitors to the UK need an ETA if they do not need a visa for short stays of up to six months, or do not already have a UK immigration status.

Responding to the cancellation of Wireless and the festival’s latest statement, a spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “With no headliner and multiple sponsors dropping out, Wireless has had to cancel the festival.  “How did it come to this? Apparently ‘no concerns were highlighted’ about Kanye West at the time of the booking. Who were they consulting? A wall? That’s what happens when the only stakeholders you speak to are those who stand to make a profit.”  The group added: “It’s nice that now Wireless is saying ‘Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent’ when just a few hours ago the festival promoter was saying we all need to forgive Kanye for declaring himself a full-blown Nazi only recently.”

The rapper said earlier on Tuesday he “would be grateful” to meet members of the Jewish community in the UK after controversy over his booking.

In a statement, West said he had been “following the conversation around Wireless”, and offered to meet representatives of the community in person “to listen”.