Sadiq Khan condemns Wireless Festival for booking “offensive and wrong” Kanye West
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has issued a statement criticising Wireless Festival for booking Kanye West.
West, who now goes by the stage name Ye, is set to headline all three nights of the London festival this summer, closing the show at Finsbury Park on July 10th, July 11th, and July 12th.
The three shows mark his first in the United Kingdom since he headlined the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2015.
Since then, West declared that he was a Nazi on social media and also released a song titled ‘Heil Hitler’ in 2025.
In one particular social media tirade in February 2025, West wrote on X, “I LOVE HITLER NOW WHAT BITCHES. IM A NAZI. I SAY WHATEVER THE FUCK I WANT PUSSIES.”
Earlier this year, West took out a full-page spread in The Wall Street Journal, apologising for his actions, blaming them on a brain injury and bipolar.
West wrote in his apology, “I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
Now, Khan has spoken out against West performing in the capital. The Labour politician said in a statement (per Ava Santina on X), “The past comments and actions of this artist are offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values.”
He also clarified, “This was a decision taken by the festival organisers and not one City Hall is involved in.”
Khan’s condemnation comes after the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), the UK’s leading charity fighting antisemitism, criticised the booking in exclusive comments made to Far Out.
A spokesperson for the charity said, “Kanye West has dedicated years of his life to trying to incite his followers to hate Jews. He has more followers than there are Jews on Earth, so his incitement has a huge impact. His cycle of apology and relapse has become a routine, so as with any addict once again we must wait to see if this time is any different.”
They continued: “What is notable is that the latest apology came on the eve of the release of a new album,” in reference to West releasing his new album Bully on March 27th.
The CAA added, “It is disappointing that venues have been so quick to invite someone who was so recently peddled conspiracy theories, Hitler worship and bigoted lies – including now one of the UK’s biggest festival stages. If he remains on the right path and makes more effort to make amends, that is well and good, but if he returns to his old ways these venues will have much to answer for.”
West is also set to perform stadium shows in the Netherlands, France, Spain and Portugal as part of his upcoming European tour this summer.
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