Keir Starmer “deeply concerned” by Kanye West headlining Wireless despite “antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”

The rapper is set to perform at the Finsbury Park a little over a year after posting “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi” on social media. Keir Starmer has criticised Wireless Festival for allowing Kanye West to headline, calling his booking “concerning”. The controversial rapper, who now goes by Ye, has been booked to headline all three nights of the Finsbury Park festival, with the shows described as a three-night journey through his “most iconic records”. So far, the move has been criticised by groups including the Jewish Leadership Council and Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, the former of whom called his booking “deeply irresponsible”. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also slammed West’s booking, commenting: “We are clear that the past comments and actions of this artist are offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values”. Similarly, the Prime Minister has now made a statement addressing Ye’s slot. “It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism,” he said, per The Sun.

via nme: Keir Starmer “deeply concerned” by Kanye West headlining Wireless despite “antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”

siehe dazu auch: Pepsi drops Wireless sponsorship amid criticism of Kanye West booking Sponsor pulls out after Keir Starmer calls decision to book rapper who wrote song titled Heil Hitler ‘deeply concerning’. Pepsi has said it is withdrawing its sponsorship of a UK music festival that is due to be headlined by Kanye West after Keir Starmer joined criticism of the event. The musician is understood to have not yet made an application to come to Britain and could be blocked under powers allowing the authorities to do so if his presence is deemed not conducive to the public good. (…) However, there are now serious doubts about whether the festival, which is due to take place in London’s Finsbury Park in July, will go ahead. A Pepsi spokesperson said: “Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless festival.” Starmer said: “It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism. “Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure,” he added, in comments first reported by the Sun on Sunday.