Wireless Festival has been called off after Kanye West was blocked from traveling to the United Kingdom.
The rapper, who now goes by Ye, had been set to headline the London festival in July. Instead, organizers announced Monday that the entire event had been canceled after the Home Office refused to let him enter the country.
“As a result of the Home Office banning Ye from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel,” organizers said. “All ticket holders will receive an automatic full refund.”
The government’s decision came after weeks of controversy surrounding Ye’s scheduled appearance. Jewish groups publicly objected to the booking, while several sponsors, including Pepsi and Diageo, pulled out of the festival.
A spokesperson for the Home Office said Ye’s entry was denied because officials believed allowing him into the country would not serve “the public good.”
In a statement released Tuesday, Ye said he wanted to use the performance as “a show of change.”
“My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music,” he said.
Wireless organizers said they had spoken with outside partners before signing Ye and had not been warned of any issues.
Ye became one of music’s biggest stars after the release of his 2004 debut, The College Dropout. In recent years, his music career has been overshadowed by repeated antisemitic comments and public backlash.