CONTROVERIAL rapper Kanye West says he wants to bring “peace and love” amid backlash over his headline slot at Wireless Festival.
Major sponsors have pulled out and the Prime Minister has slammed the decision to feature West at the three-day event in London this summer.
Sir Keir Starmer said it was “deeply concerning” Kanye would be playing in the UK amid concerns from Jewish groups.
Three major sponsors have pulled out of the festival, which takes place in Finsbury Park every year, in protest of his previous antisemitic remarks.
His permission to enter the country is now being carefully considered by the Home Office, Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed.
But the rapper has since offered to meet with the British Jewish community ahead of his show at the festival.
Speaking out amid the backlash, he said: “I’ve been following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly.
“My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music.
“I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen.
“I know words aren’t enough – I’ll have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.”
West is due to headline all three nights at the Wireless Festival – playing to 150,000 people in total.
He has previously sold swastika T-shirts — and been pictured wearing them — and his song Heil Hitler, released last year, glorified the Nazi leader.
The Jewish Leadership Council branded his Wireless Festival booking “deeply irresponsible”.
Sir Keir Starmer slammed Kanye’s inclusion at the festival, citing his “previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”.
The PM told The Sun on Sunday: “Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears.
“Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has also hit out at the “appalling” decision to headline West at the music event.
Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Streeting said: “I cannot for the life of me understand why Wireless still have him as a headliner.
“There are plenty of other talented artists who would benefit from the exposure and who in turn would help drive ticket sales.
“To provide this kind of platform and opportunity to Kanye West against this backdrop of behaviour I think is a very bad error of judgment.”
Labour MP Rachael Maskell and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp have both called on the government to stop any visit.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has the right to refuse a visa to anyone trying to enter the country.
This can be done – and has been in the past – if their presence is deemed “not conducive to the public good”.
Snoop Dogg was previously banned from the UK in 2007 after his involvement in a brawl at Heathrow Airport that left several cops injured.
Kanye, who shares four children with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, was blocked from entering Australia last year over his “Heil Hitler” song.
It was released on May 8 — Victory in Europe Day — and contains pro-Hitler lyrics and extracts from one of his speeches.
Pepsi announced on Saturday that it would be dropping out of the event alongside drinks giant Diageo.
Adding to the chaos, PayPal and Rockstar Energy Drinks have today also decided to wash their hands clean of this year’s festival.
Festival Republic managing director Melvin Benn last night asked the public to “forgive” West.
Benn said: “I am a deeply committed anti-fascist and have been all my adult life.
“What Ye has said in the past about Jews and Hitler is as abhorrent to me as it is to the Jewish community, the Prime Minister and others that have commented and – taking him at his word – to Ye now also.
“Ye’s music is played on commercial radio stations in this country… he has a legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country.
“He is intended to come in and perform… we are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature.
“Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world.
“I would ask people to reflect on their instant comments of disgust at the likelihood of him performing (as was mine) and offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do.”
West also released a line of T-shirts featuring swastikas last February and has posed in a Ku Klux Klan outfit.
Four years ago, he was banned from social media after threatening to kill Jewish people.
He later apologised, saying he had bipolar disorder.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
