Kanye offers to meet Jewish community in UK after Wireless controversy

Kanye West has said he "would be grateful" to meet members of the Jewish community in the UK after controversy over his headline booking at this year's Wireless Festival.

In a statement, the rapper, now known as Ye, said he had been "following the conversation around Wireless", and offered to meet representatives of the community in person "to listen".

"I know words aren't enough," added the star, who has a history of making antisemitic comments. "I'll have to show change through my actions. If you're open, I'm here."

In a statement, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said it was "willing" to meet the rapper, on the condition that he pulls out of his planned performances at Wireless.

"The Jewish community will want to see a genuine remorse and change before believing that the appropriate place to test this sincerity is on the main stage at the Wireless Festival," said the Board's president, Phil Rosenberg.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman reiterated that West's permission to enter the UK is currently under review, and said that all available options are on the table.

The rapper was booked to headline all three nights of the London-based festival, which takes place in July.

He was granted permission to perform in the UK "in the last few days", according to Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, which organises the event.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Benn said: "He has a visa already issued to appear, to come into the country, and the Home Secretary may well rescind that today, I don't know."

"If she does, she does, and then the issue is over in terms of his appearance."

The Home Office said it was "not aware of any immediate plans" for West, 48, to visit the UK, but "his permission to enter is currently being reviewed".

For almost half a decade, West has caused outrage for a string of antisemitic, racist and pro-Nazi comments.

Amongst his many incendiary statements, West released a song called Heil Hitler, and sold merchandise featuring the swastika.

He apologised for his actions in a lengthy statement published in the Wall Street Journal in January and blamed manic episodes caused by his bipolar disorder.

Since then, West has been seeking a return to mainstream public view.

Last week, he played two sold out concerts at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium, with guest appearances by Travis Scott and Lauryn Hill.

West did not explicitly mention his history of antisemitic comments on stage, but told the audience: "Tonight we're going to put all this behind us, ain't that right LA?"

The backlash over the star's appearance at Wireless in July has seen multiple sponsors pull out of the event amid criticism from politicians.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Benn admitted that Festival Republic had failed to consult with Jewish communities in the UK before making the booking.

"Potentially we should have done," he said, "and that may prove to be a mistake that we made."

Attempts were made to reach out to Jewish groups after the concerts were announced last week, he said, but "they have refused a meeting".

Asked what would happen if West tried to perform Heil Hitler on stage in London, Benn said the show would be stopped immediately.

"We will have our hands on the microphone controls at all times. I've done that many times in the past."

Benn added that Pepsi, the festival's headline sponsor, had originally "signed off and approved" West's appearance - although it has since distanced itself from the event.

Benn, who is a major UK music industry figure and event promoter, agreed that West's past behaviour was "abhorrent" and "disgusting".

But the promoter, who also runs the Reading & Leeds Festival, highlighted the role that the star's mental health may have played, and asked for understanding.

"Mental health is not something that disappears overnight," Benn said.

"People suffer psychotic behaviour, suffer bipolar behaviour, for many, many years... And I think people are forgetting that."

But Jewish groups have criticised Benn's support for the star.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said that the Wireless boss's statement "will not reassure many within the Jewish or other communities".

In a statement, it added: "It has been less than a year since Kanye West released a song entitled Heil Hitler, the culmination of three years of appalling antisemitism," he said in a statement.

"He also made a number of deeply offensive comments about the Black community, saying that the 400-year experience of slavery was 'like a choice'."

"We are willing to meet Kanye West as part of his journey of healing, but only after he agrees not to play the Wireless Festival this year."

The Campaign Against Antisemitism also suggested West should pull out of the event.

"Mr West has previously made apologies right before album releases and concert tours and then retracted the apology and reverted to type. We need to be persuaded that this time is will be different," it said in a statement.

"If Mr West cancels his appearances at Wireless, it will be a sign that he may be genuine in his remorse. If he does not, then a meeting with Jewish groups can serve no purpose other than to kosher his invitation to the Festival – which we will play no part in."

On Sunday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was "deeply concerned" about West's scheduled appearance.

"Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears," he told The Sun newspaper.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed those sentiments on Tuesday, calling West's apology "mealy-mouthed and self-serving", and accusing Wireless of offering the rapper a "fig leaf of credibility".

"If he wants forgiveness, it's not my forgiveness he needs," Streeting told Radio 4.

"It's the forgiveness of the Jewish communities and I don't think he's done anything to earn it."

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said West was "guilty of appalling antisemitic and pro-Nazi comments" and urged home secretary Shabana Mahmood to use her powers under the Immigration Act to refuse him a visa.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has also called for West to be banned from entering the UK, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: "Personally I wouldn't buy a ticket."

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