Grinning Kanye West makes an appearance at LA comedy club just hours after being hit with a UK travel ban and collapse of Wireless Festival
The artist formerly known as Kanye West still had something to smile about on Tuesday evening, just hours after the Home Office banned him from flying to the UK to headline the Wireless Festival.
The controversial rapper, who now calls himself Ye, was making major signings at Wireless; this was canceled following calls for the annual civic music celebration to be canceled indefinitely due to West’s decision to ignore his history of anti-Semitism.
While beleaguered organizers issued an apologetic statement on Tuesday, the man at the center of the controversy appeared stunned as he took to the stage at a comedy club in Los Angeles.
A grinning West, 48, hit the stage at local venue The Lab At Hollywood Improv, where he was joined by actor Deon Cole and comedian Ocean Glapion for an impromptu set.o ‘modern day’ michael jacksonFor his contributions to contemporary music.
Taking to Instagram after the show, a starstruck Glapion wrote: ‘Last night was one of the most amazing and unforgettable nights! ‘I got to go on stage with 2 legends!!!’
The post inevitably received mixed reactions from followers, with one person commenting: ‘We shouldn’t normalize someone who sells swastika t-shirts and calls himself a Nazi…’
Kanye West still had something to smile about on Tuesday evening, just hours after the Home Office banned him from flying to the UK to headline the Wireless Festival.
A grinning West took to the stage at local venue The Lab At Hollywood Improv, where he was joined by actor Deon Cole and comedian Ocean Glapion for an impromptu set.
The latter referenced West’s recent public apology and well-documented struggle with mental health issues, adding: ‘I hope he finds sanity, peace and love… but he apologized right before he dropped the album and tried to book a gig.’
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Gold Digger rapper, who used Nazi imagery and faced accusations of antisemitism, should never have been invited to headline Wireless, which is held every year in London.
The headlines provoked calls for the rapper to be banned from the UK for his behaviour, including releasing a song called Heil Hitler and advertising for the sale of a swastika T-shirt on his website.
The Press Association understands that West applied to travel to the UK via an electronic travel permit on Monday, but the Home Office stopped him on the grounds that his presence in the UK would not be “in the public interest”.
It is understood West’s ETA was initially issued online before ministers intervened.
The Prime Minister said: ‘Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless.
‘This Government stands with the Jewish community and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.
‘We will always take the necessary steps to protect the public and uphold our values.’
A statement from organizer Festival Republic confirmed: ‘The Home Office has withdrawn Ye’s ETA (electronic travel authorisation) and refused him entry to the UK.
Taking to Instagram after the show, a star-struck Glapion received mixed reactions from followers, referencing West’s onstage appearance.
‘As a result, Wireless Festival has been canceled and all ticket holders will be refunded.
‘As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted prior to booking Ye and no concerns were highlighted at the time.
‘All forms of anti-Semitism are abhorrent and we recognize the real and personal impact these issues have.
‘As Ye said today, he accepts that words alone are not enough, and yet he still hopes to be given the opportunity to start a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.’
The rapper had offered to meet the British Jewish community before his show.
In his statement before the government’s decision was announced, he said: ‘I have been following the discussions about Wireless and I would like to address this issue directly.
‘My sole purpose is to come to London and present a show of change that brings unity, peace and love through my music.
‘I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet and listen in person to members of the Jewish community in the UK.
‘I know words are not enough; I will have to show the change through my behavior. If you’re open, I’m here.’
Wireless Festival announced Tuesday it would be canceled due to West’s travel ban
The Wireless Festival was planned to be held in Finsbury Park in London but was cancelled.
Pre-sale tickets for the Wireless Festival went on sale at 12pm on Tuesday and are believed to be sold out. The general sale would start at 12:00 on Wednesday.
The Community Security Trust (CST), which aims to protect British Jews from antisemitism, described the Government’s decision as “the logical conclusion of another bruising period for British Jews”.
The statement added: ‘Anti-Semitic hatred should have no place in society and cultural leaders have a role to play in ensuring this.
‘People who express genuine and meaningful remorse for previous anti-Semitic behavior will always be welcomed by the Jewish community, but this process must precede such public rehabilitation.’
The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said the Government had made the “right decision”.
He added in a statement: “When (the government) said antisemitism had no place in the UK, it backed up its words with action.
“It is clear that someone who boasts of making tens of millions of dollars selling swastika T-shirts and who only a few months ago released the song ‘Heil Hitler’ would not be in the public interest in the UK.”
Phil Rosenberg, chairman of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said the group would be willing to meet with West if he withdraws from Wireless.
Rosenberg said: ‘It’s been less than a year since Kanye West released the song Heil Hitler, the culmination of three years of appalling antisemitism.
‘He also made numerous offensive comments about the black community, saying the 400-year experience of slavery was ‘like a choice.’
‘Although he claims remorse today, his latest album includes the disgusting track Gas Chamber, which was first released last year.’
He continued: ‘The Jewish community will want to see real repentance and change before believing that the Radio Festival main stage is the appropriate place for this sincerity to be tested.
‘So we want to meet Kanye West as part of his recovery journey, but only after he agrees not to play the Wireless Festival this year.’
