Kanye West banned from entering the UK

The British government has blocked Kanye West from entering the country because his presence would be contrary to the public good, the BBC reported. The American rapper was scheduled to headline the Wireless festival in London in July.

The British Home Office confirmed to the BBC that West applied on Monday for an ETA, an electronic entry document required for citizens of countries not subject to visa requirements, but was refused. This means the rapper cannot enter the UK.

Shortly after this information was announced, the organizers of the Wireless festival announced that this year's edition was canceledand all people who have already purchased tickets will have their money refunded. The festival was to take place on July 10-12.

The government has the power to ban foreigners from entering the UK if their presence is not deemed to be “conducive to the public good”. The ban may be issued personally by the Minister of Interior. As British media explain, government guidelines state that it usually concerns serious issues such as national security, war crimes, corruption or extremism.

The 48-year-old West – currently using the stage name Ye – has been heavily criticized for several years for anti-Semitic statements and glorification of Nazism and Adolf Hitler, which has repeatedly led to the blocking of his accounts on social networks. (PAP)

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