What other high-profile performers have been blocked from entering the UK?

WorldEntertainment
7 Apr 2026 • 11:13 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Wireless Festival has been cancelled after US rapper Kanye West was blocked from entering the UK.

Music fans who have purchased tickets for the three performances by West, now known as Ye, scheduled for July in London’s Finsbury Park, will now be refunded.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Gold Digger rapper, who has used Nazi imagery and faced accusations of antisemitism, should never have been invited to headline the festival.

A statement from organiser Festival Republic read: “The Home Office has withdrawn Ye’s ETA (electronic travel authorisation), denying him entry into the United Kingdom.

“As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket-holders.

“As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking Ye and no concerns were highlighted at the time.

“Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had.

“As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.”

The headline sets provoked calls for the rapper to be banned from the UK because of behaviour, which has included releasing a song called Heil Hitler and advertising a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.

West, now known as Ye, is not the first performer to have been refused entry to the country.

Tyler, The Creator

The American rapper was banned by the then home secretary in 2015.

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He claimed he was barred because of lyrics he wrote in 2009.

His manager insisted they were “the type of lyrics he hasn’t written since”, adding: “Highlights from the letter include that his work encourages violence and intolerance of homosexuality.”

Snoop Dogg

Snoop was banned from the UK in 2006 following a disturbance at Heathrow Airport, but it was eventually lifted, allowing him to play at Glastonbury in 2010.

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The Drop It Like It’s Hot rapper is now co-owner of Championship football club Swansea City.

Chris Brown

The R&B singer was denied a visa to enter the country days before his UK tour was due to start in 2010.

The US star had previously been sentenced to community labour for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna, the pop singer.

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Separately, Brown is due to face a jury trial on October 26 over an allegation he attacked a former friend at a private members’ club in Mayfair.

At earlier hearings, Brown was ordered to pay a £5 million security fee as part of his bail conditions, which also allowed him to go on a world tour as long as he surrendered his passport on arrival in each country.