London Mayor Sadiq Khan has spoken out against the decision to have American rapper Kanye West, who now goes by the name Ye, headline the Wireless Festival in London this summer, condemning the choice as inappropriate and out of step with the capital’s values.

Ye is set to perform across three nights at Finsbury Park from 10 to 12 July 2026, marking his first UK performances in more than a decade. Critics have voiced concerns given the rapper’s controversial history of offensive comments and behaviour, particularly surrounding antisemitism.

In a statement issued through his office, a spokesperson for the Mayor said,

“We are clear that the past comments and actions of this artist are offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values, This was a decision taken by the festival organisers and not one that City Hall is involved in.”

Khan emphasised that the Greater London Authority was not involved in the booking, stressing the distinction between his administration and the festival’s choices.

Ye’s announcement as the Wireless headliner has already sparked a wave of reaction, with Jewish advocacy groups and political figures also denouncing the decision. The Jewish Leadership Council described the booking as “deeply irresponsible”, criticising the decision to provide a platform to an artist who has previously used his voice to spread harmful messages, including antisemitic sentiments and Nazi imagery. These groups argue that allowing Ye to headline such a prominent event could contribute to a climate of intolerance at a time when antisemitic incidents in the UK are a serious concern.

Although Ye has issued public apologies in the past for some of his actions, including a full-page apology in a major US newspaper attributing his behaviour to mental health issues, critics have questioned the sincerity and timing of these statements, pointing to subsequent controversial actions that followed previous apologies. This scrutiny has only intensified the debate around whether he should be given such a high-profile platform in London.

The announcement of Ye’s headline slot at Wireless has also drawn wider public reaction, with some fans excited by the prospect of seeing his music live in the UK again, and others outraged and calling for boycotts of the festival. Wireless organisers have maintained that the booking was made independently and reflects Ye’s enduring influence as a musician, but the backlash from political, community and cultural leaders shows the extent of concern over the decision.