‘Deeply concerning’: UK’s Starmer pans London music festival over planned Kanye West appearances

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he is concerned about planned concerts in London by US rapper Kanye West, who has a history of antisemitic outbursts and released a song called “Heil Hitler.”

The disgraced 48-year-old hip-hop star — now known as Ye — is due to play three nights at the Wireless festival in London in July as part of a European comeback tour.

Starmer tells The Sun newspaper it is “deeply concerning Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.”

He adds that “antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly.”

Event sponsor Pepsi told The Independent news website yesterday that it had withdrawn its sponsorship. Parent company PepsiCo does not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

The planned appearances, announced by festival organizers on social media last month, have prompted criticism from Jewish organizations and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

And West’s European tour has already proved controversial, with the mayor of Marseille in France saying he is “not welcome” for a concert there in June.

West has expressed regret over his antisemitic rants, which he blamed on his bipolar disorder.

In May 2025, he released a song called “Heil Hitler” to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

The song was banned by major streaming platforms.