07.04.2026
The Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomes the government’s announcement that Kanye West will be banned from entering the country.
Our full statement:
“We welcome the government listening to the concerns of Jews in the UK and preventing Kanye West from entering the country.
“It is deeply regrettable that Wireless Festival invited him in the first place and then doubled down when the Jewish community and our allies objected. We note that the Festival has now been cancelled but it should never have reached this point. The situation could and should have been resolved much earlier.
“We hope that lessons are learned across the industry. Music festivals should be places where all communities feel welcome, not venues that platform individuals with records of profiteering from antisemitism, racism, and other repulsive views.
“We are immensely grateful for the support of those across the political spectrum and from other minority and faith communities. It should not be for the Jewish community alone to advocate for our safety; it is incumbent on the entire arts and culture sector, and civil society as a whole, to recognise the scourge of antisemitism and heed the concerns of Jews when problematic acts are booked.”
Phil Rosenberg
President