Piers Morgan has expressed strong disapproval of Kanye West’s upcoming performance at London’s Wireless Festival. The controversial rapper, who hasn’t performed in the UK for over a decade, is set to headline the annual rap and hip-hop festival this summer. However, the event has faced backlash, with Pepsi and Diageo withdrawing their sponsorship.
On April 6, the British broadcaster took to X to voice his opinion on calls for Prime Minister Kier Starmer to ban West from the UK. Morgan stated, “Shouldn’t even be a debate. Kanye’s Hitler-loving, N—-slathering, Jew-hating bulls— should be disqualifying for appearances at any music festival.”
According to reports from the Daily Mail, Prime Minister Kier Starmer described the decision to book West as “deeply concerning,” citing the artist’s past promotion of antisemitism. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has the authority to exclude individuals from Britain if they are deemed “not considered conducive to the public good.” The outlet explained that anyone who has “engaged in extremism or other unacceptable behavior” can be denied admission.
The controversy surrounding West comes months after he blamed his inflammatory behavior on a brain injury in an apology published by The Wall Street Journal. In an open letter titled “To Those I’ve Hurt” on January 26, the “Heartless” rapper shared that he believes a 2002 car crash led to his bipolar diagnosis.
“Bipolar disorder comes with its own defense system. Denial. When you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick. You think everyone else is overreacting,” he continued. “You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you’re losing your grip entirely.”
West insisted he “lost touch with reality” as the disorder made him feel “powerful, certain [and] unstoppable.” He admitted that things got worse the longer he ignored the problem. “I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst,” he went on.
“In early 2025, I fell into a four-month long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life,” West wrote. “As the situation became increasingly unsustainable, there were times I didn’t want to be here anymore.”
Addressing his past antisemitism, West said: “One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type-1 are the disconnected moments — many of which I still cannot recall — that led to poor judgment and reckless behavior that oftentimes feels like an out-of-body-experience.”
“I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change,” he penned. “It does not excuse what I did though. I am not a N— or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
