Sajid Javid Condemns Kanye West's Wireless Festival Booking, Suggests Ban
Former Chancellor Sajid Javid has criticized Wireless Festival's decision to book Kanye West, suggesting the Home Secretary should block his entry into the UK.
The controversy surrounding Kanye West, now known as Ye, headlining all three nights of Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park this July continues to escalate. Sajid Javid, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and current chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, has joined the chorus of critics, calling the booking "disgraceful" in a recent post on X.
The booking has sparked widespread condemnation, including from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who expressed “deep concern” over Kanye West's performance at Wireless given his history of anti-Semitic remarks and apparent celebration of Nazism. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also voiced his opposition, stating that Ye's past comments and actions do not align with London's values. Groups such as the Jewish Leadership Council and the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism have also publicly condemned the decision.
Major sponsors are also distancing themselves. Pepsi, the primary sponsor of Wireless, has withdrawn its support. A spokesperson confirmed to the Mirror that they had “decided to withdraw [their] sponsorship of Wireless Festival.” Diageo, owner of brands like Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan, has reportedly followed suit.
<blockquote data-dnt="true" data-width="550"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Wireless Festival’s booking of Kanye West is disgraceful. Yes, he has spoken about mental health challenges. That should be met with sympathy. But declaring yourself a Nazi and promoting a song called Heil Hitler should have consequences – and those consequences don’t include… <a href="https://t.co/9dFIXBVApi">https://t.co/9dFIXBVApi</a> — Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) <a href="https://twitter.com/sajidjavid/status/2041039972044583288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2026</a> </blockquote>
Javid elaborated on his criticism, acknowledging Kanye West's mental health struggles but arguing that his anti-Semitic behavior should have consequences. He wrote, “But declaring yourself a Nazi and promoting a song called Heil Hitler should have consequences – and those consequences don’t include being given a stage to spread your hate to thousands of young Londoners.”
Kanye West's history of anti-Semitic remarks dates back to 2022, leading to suspensions from Instagram and Twitter, and the severing of ties with his lawyer, talent agency, record label, and fashion brands like Balenciaga and Adidas. While he initially refused to apologize and even suggested Jewish people should “forgive Hitler,” he later issued an apology to the Jewish community in 2023 and blamed alcohol for his behavior.
Javid argues that Wireless Festival's decision is purely commercial, exploiting Kanye West's notoriety for headlines and ticket sales. He stated, “Young people are growing up in a culture where hatred is too often dressed up as edge, rebellion or entertainment. Put someone with this record on one of Britain’s biggest stages and you send a poisonous message.”
He praised Pepsi and Diageo for withdrawing their support and urged others to reconsider their involvement. Javid concluded by stating, “The organisers have a small window to still do the right thing and disinvite him. If they don’t, just like I did with hate preachers, I’m certain the Home Secretary will want to use her powers and block Kanye West from the UK.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has the authority to exclude Kanye West from the UK. UK immigration rules allow denying entry based on character, conduct, or associations that pose a threat to UK society. This applies to conduct both within the UK and abroad.
<blockquote data-instgrm-version="14" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWhUKJxDjWr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-captioned=""> </blockquote>
Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Kanye West alleging anti-Semitic behavior. One former employee claimed Kanye West said Jewish people were “working together to hold him back.” Another claimed he used antisemitic language in the workplace and praised Hitler, allegedly resulting in a settlement. In early 2025, Kanye West took back a previous apology for anti-Semitic remarks and declared himself “a Nazi,” later claiming he’d realized he wasn’t a Nazi, followed by more swastika apparel appearing on his X page.
Kanye West has since apologized, meeting with a rabbi and taking out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal. While he didn't address the controversy while kicking off his tour, he told the crowd at the SoFi Stadium: “Tonight we’re going to put all this behind us, ain’t that right LA?”
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