LONDON — Ye has offered to meet members of the Jewish community in Britain, as he responded for the first time Tuesday to growing backlash over his status as headliner of a London music festival.
Subscribe to read this story ad-free
Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.
The rapper, formerly known as Kanye West, issued the statement as pressure built for the U.K. government to ban him from the country after the festival rejected calls from politicians and community leaders to drop him as headliner over his past antisemitic comments and songs.
“I’ve been following the conversation around Wireless and I want to address it directly. My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music,” Ye said in the statement.
He continued: “I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the U.K. in person, to listen.”
“I know words aren’t enough — I’ve have to show change through my actions,” he said.”
“If you’re open, I’m here. With Love.”
A British government source told NBC News on Monday that ministers were reviewing whether to let Ye into the country and at least four corporate sponsors of the Wireless festival, including Pepsi, distanced themselves from the event.
Ye previously released a song called “Heil Hitler” and offered T-shirts for sale featuring a swastika symbol.
He publicly apologized for those comments earlier this year in a full-page Wall Street Journal advertisement, citing an undiagnosed brain injury and mental health issues.
Wireless organizer Festival Republic, a division of Live Nation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.
On Monday, managing director Melvin Benn said in a lengthy statement that Ye had been invited to perform songs that are already being heard by millions on the radio and streaming services and that he should be offered “forgiveness.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said in response to Ye’s statement that “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 Wireless Festival.”
Phil Rosenberg, the board’s president, said the group would meet with Ye only after he has agreed not to play the festival.
Wes Streeting, the British health secretary and an influential voice in the ruling Labour Party, told Sky News on Tuesday that Ye’s set should be canceled.
“What I would say is that Kanye West has no business headlining the Wireless Festival. I think organizers showed a terrible error of judgement in inviting him,” he said.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously criticized the decision to have Ye headline the festival, which is set to take place July 10-12 in Finsbury Park in the north of the capital.
This is a developing story, check back here for updates soon.
