The Wireless music festival has been cancelled after the artist formerly known as Kanye West was banned from entering the UK amid a deepening political row over his previous antisemitic statements.
West, who is legally known as Ye, made an application to travel to the UK via an Electronic Travel Authorisation on Monday but it has been blocked by officials.
A spokesperson for the festival confirmed it would no longer go ahead in July after the government decision was announced, and said refunds would be issued to those who had already bought tickets.
The statement read: “The Home Office has withdrawn Ye’s ETA, denying him entry into the United Kingdom.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.
58 Comments
HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social · 94 pts · 137d
So are the Wireless festival people completely clueless and ignorant or do they share a world view with kanye?
themeatbridge@lemmy.world · 82 pts · 137d
Probably C) they don't give a shit because profit.
HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social · 36 pts · 137d
Okay sure but a good businessman or businessmanwoman would have realized that it is not good business to invite a nazi to perform at your festival
mushroommunk@lemmy.today · 34 pts · 137d
Except he still somehow draws crowds of people who agrees with his views. It's a damning commentary on our society.
scutiger@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 137d
Also those who claim to "separate the art from the artist."
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 136d
they tried to justify it with crosby, i was watching a yt video where a bunch of guest said to the main owners , said he coulve drawn his inspiration from SA-ing/ SH people
HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social · 5 pts · 137d
Yeah but as we can see, it wasn't a good money making decision. And it wasn't that difficult to predict that would be the case. If a moron like me saw this coming, surely the festival people should have also.
But from what I've witnessed in the past... decade or two, the people in charge of things are utter morons.
HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · 13 pts · 137d
From the article ...
HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social · 10 pts · 137d
So they were aware, didn't care or supported his madness. I hope they feel some consequences.
themeatbridge@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 137d
Like Nazis don't have money to spend?
HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social · 3 pts · 137d
Perhaps they do. Still a stupid decision to get him to perform. As evidenced by what ended up happening, the whole thing went tits up. Completely predictably.
ohulancutash@feddit.uk · 4 pts · 137d
50,000 dickheads still bought his album in the US alone.
Hapankaali@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 137d
Nazis are leading in the polls in the UK, perhaps they figured West's antisemitic comments would make for a good selling point.
Lasherz12@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 137d
He recently apologized and said more or less he's back on the meds. I could see them opening back up to him if they felt it was genuine and the government stepping in to say it doesn't matter if he apologized.
antonim@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 137d
He apologised and started taking meds and then relapsed how many times already?
Lasherz12@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 137d
Too many, I'd side with the government morally on Ye. Not sure whether they should be the final say on who fits that description though since they think Kneecap fits it too.
HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social · 9 pts · 137d
Ehh... better to wait 5 years to make sure. Or 50.
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 136d
KIM told him to take med like years ago he just dint listen.
Baguette@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 137d
Just because he apologized and is on the path to rehab doesn't mean I have to accept him. Like sure I wish him the best to be better, but I don't necessarily need to accept him.
1D10@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 136d
As a bipolar man,fuck him, sure the things we do and say are not entirely our fault but they are 100% our responsibility. If he wants to apologize and be forgiven he needs to put in the work, spend his money and time helping people, speak out about awareness and rebuild the respect.
His actions told bipolar people "hey don't take your meds and you will get rich"
And told people "bipolar people are abusive nazis"
Saying "I'm sorry, give me money " should not be ok.
I reiterate fuck him.
ohulancutash@feddit.uk · 1 pts · 137d
Historically the only effective medication for Nazism has been lead administered at high velocity or a rope applied topically to the neck. Mental illness does not make one a nazi. Being a nazi does. His medication status is irrelevant.
nulluser@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 137d
Not to mention everyone that paid for tickets.
einkorn@feddit.org · 3 pts · 137d
Why not both?
HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social · 1 pts · 137d
Sure, that'd be the third option. The first option doesn't necessarily mean they support the guys... "ideas"
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 136d
they cant be that ignorant to not know who he supports now, they know full well, its like the HP fans. hes been doing this for years already. my bro loves him and hes completely ignorant to his anti-semitic behaviour, and he knows that he is that way, he just blows it off as fake news or misinformation.
jve@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 136d
Maybe they just really bought his full page Wall Street journal apology letter?
https://dam.tmz.com/document/58/o/2026/01/26/588da5bbba7246dab3a39b3befbabb72.pdf
myrmidex@belgae.social · 1 pts · 137d
Why weren't they banned?
theskyisfalling@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 31 pts · 137d
How shit is this festival that if one act falls through they cancel the entire fucking thing........
dditty@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 14 pts · 137d
Very shit. But tbf the festival's corporate sponsors like Pepsi had already pulled their funding after Ye was announced as a guest. And then the organizers would have to find a replacement act that would draw audiences, and still have to offer refunds after a replacement act was found. And I imagine there would be controversy towards any replacement act they did find, both from the deranged Ye fans and haters.
DarkFuture@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 137d
I guess it only pays to be a Nazi in the United States.
Glytch@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 137d
The Brits only like homegrown Nazis
ButtermilkBiscuit@feddit.nl · 23 pts · 137d
Kanye West is old garbage. Like oldies rap for millennial edge lords. Funny because hitler would have sent his black ass to the gas chamber first lol.
sturmblast@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 137d
Good, fuck Kanye
4shtonButcher@discuss.tchncs.de · 12 pts · 137d
FAFO
DrSleepless@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 137d
Ha ha!
tomiant@piefed.social · 1 pts · 136d
It's amazing how we don't need any additional context cues to know precisely how this is supposed to sound.
scytale@piefed.zip · 7 pts · 137d
Is it really a "festival" if pulling one headlining act cancels the entire thing?
HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 137d
From the article ...
scytale@piefed.zip · 2 pts · 137d
I know, I was alluding to them making do with their current lineups and maybe upgrading some artists as the headlining acts if they can't get replacements. I'm sure there are other popular artists on their lineup. I guess the presales went dry when news of the ban was announced.
insaneinthemembrane@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 137d
I don't understand it either. It's in London, there are tons of artists in London, even more tons of people going to concerts. It's weird.
snowdriftissue@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 137d
Rare UK W
anothermember@feddit.uk · 5 pts · 137d
I don't know who this person is, but doing some research this "wireless festival" is managed by some American entertainment company called "Live Nation Entertainment", so that's typical.
JustAnotherPodunk@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 137d
Live nation entertainment is the company formed after Ticketmaster merged with live nation. Concert promotion and ticket sales. So they have a long rap sheet of alleged but obvious price fixing and anti competitive lawsuits and allegations.
As for not knowing who kanye west is... Let's just say he is a mentally unstable black hiphop artist and self confessed nazi, as per his last unmedicated manic episode and subsequent album. And media interviews. And vocal trump support. Its a roller coaster of a ride. Also he married Kim Kardashian and that's not even the top ten of questionable decisions he's made in the past decade.
ayyy@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 136d
The non-typical part is that Live Nation are issuing refunds. Usually when an artist drops out for any reason they just steal the money. It must be nice having consumer protection laws and anti-monopoly enforcement.
venusaur@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 137d
He has to apply to travel to UK?
hitmyspot@aussie.zone · 12 pts · 137d
Yes, he'd be working. You need a work permit. Also tourists often need visas too. However, for artists, they need a work visa to enter and work.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · -11 pts · 137d
Listen, he's a loser and a POS. I don't particularly like the guy. All is current music sucks.
But this whole UK fascist turn wrt to Israel is not the way. Straight up blocking people from entering your country, because someone in the Home Secretary's office as beef, is a bleak way to run a country.
The number of Musicians, Politicians, and Religious Leaders on this list really leaves the impression that it's arbitrary and personal, especially when you consider who is coming and going through the UK at will.
Naich@piefed.world · 36 pts · 137d
He is literally a Nazi. This was just over a year ago:
https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-proclaims-hes-nazi-praises-hitler-x-rant-2027943
It'll take more than an apology to make up for that shit.
RIotingPacifist@lemmy.world · -12 pts · 137d
Is he?
Does he organize nationalists or promote white supremacy or does he just say stupid shit?
Because if it's the latter this will be weaponized against anyone left of center far more effective than this.
Wether it's Ye or Kneecap, having visa laws/the right to perform applied to individuals on a whim to pander to the media, is bad and reduces the rights of everyone.
Ironically this weakens democracy in favor of an all powerful executive.
jpreston2005@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 137d
Yeah he did that one
ohulancutash@feddit.uk · 6 pts · 137d
Yes. He is an actual fucking nazi. He sold merchandise glorifying Hitler. Precisely the sort of person borders are supposed to keep out.
Asetru@feddit.org · 27 pts · 137d
Boo hoo, a country doesn't let a fascist in.
Countries have no obligation to let people from other countries in. It's a good will gesture to do so. And why on earth would you show good will to a fascist?
RIotingPacifist@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 137d
The UK has every right to deny Ye entry, the issue is that the law is so vague that it's implemention is up to the home office and largely used to pander to the (foreign/non-dom owned) press, the UK has effective abdicated control of its borders to the media.
Ironically this also weakens democracy in favor of an all powerful executive.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 137d
It does let them in. The UK has no problem with fascists, just so long as they're British Fascists.
Asetru@feddit.org · 3 pts · 137d
Yeah. That's pretty much the point of citizenship.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · -3 pts · 137d
Fascists do love using lack of citizenship to legitimize violence.
antonim@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 137d
West has said literally nothing about Israel, he's been spouting racist, antisemitic, Holocaust-denying garbage for years and has been screaming openly and proudly that he's a nazi. His antisemitism is built around his delusions of being prosecuted by the jewish musical lobby. His latest hit is a song whose refrain goes "nigga heil Hitler, nigga heil Hitler". Any person with a modicum of moral integrity ought to have a "beef" with this idiot. Scroll through https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Views_of_Kanye_West a bit.
Trying to whitewash a bald-faced nazi into a mere "POS" who's a victim of UK's "fascism" is revolting. I mean it. Please read through the above link and reconsider.
Those arbitrary bans for reasons such as, uhh, "systematic approach to the torture and murder of civilians", "criminal convictions", "war crimes", "anti-LGBT rhetoric" and "involvement in London bombings"???
CaptPretentious@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 137d
Today I learned he actually legally changed his name to "Ye". Fucking pretentious and stupid.