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 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," he continued.

Ye offered to meet members of the community in person "to listen", adding: "I know words aren't enough - I'll have to show change through my actions. If you're open, I'm here."

The controversial rapper has caused outrage for almost half a decade 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 in a lengthy statement published in the Wall Street Journal in January and blamed manic episodes caused by his bipolar disorder.

Since then, he 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 - where he is due to headline all three nights - has seen multiple sponsors pull out of the event and criticism from politicians.

On Monday, the managing director of the festival defended the decision to choose West as a headliner, encouraging people to offer the rapper "forgiveness".

However, speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday, Melvin Benn admitted that his company, 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 immediately be stopped.

"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.

The promoter, who also runs the Reading & Leeds Festival, agreed that West's past behaviour was "abhorrent" and "disgusting", but highlighted the role that the star's mental health may have played, and asked for understanding.

"Mental health is not something that disappears overnight," he 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.

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

He added that he was "willing" to meet with West, but only if the star agrees to cancel his upcoming shows.

"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," he said.

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."

Mr Benn claimed that the rapper had been granted a visa to perform in the UK, "in the last few days".

"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," he said.

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

The Home Office says it is currently reviewing whether West, 48, should be allowed to enter the country.

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