Tottenham Hotspur Declines Kanye West Performance Request Due to Antisemitic Remarks

Tottenham Hotspur football club has turned down a request from musician Kanye West to host concerts at its London stadium. The decision stems from the artist's past public declarations and actions widely condemned as antisemitic.

West, 46, had aimed to utilize the stadium for events promoting his latest album. However, the north London club stated that the performance would not be permitted, citing the sensitivities surrounding its fanbase and the club's long-standing historical connection with the Jewish community.

As a club with a significant and dedicated Jewish following, Tottenham has historically acknowledged and embraced this link. Sources within the club indicated to British media that featuring an individual who has made numerous offensive comments about Jewish people would be "a direct affront to fans and the community."

A club insider informed The Sun newspaper, "We are proud of our heritage and our ties to the Jewish community. Antisemitism has no place at Tottenham, and hosting someone who has promoted such views is simply not an option."

Following this refusal, West reportedly approached the Wireless Festival, which has accepted his proposal and confirmed him as the headline act for all three days of the event scheduled for July 10–12 at Finsbury Park. This booking has already prompted a strong negative reaction, leading to several major sponsors withdrawing their support.

Labour leader Keir Starmer expressed his concern regarding West's booking at Wireless, stating to The Sun, "It is deeply concerning Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism. Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe."

In recent years, West has made numerous antisemitic remarks. These include releasing clothing with a swastika symbol and posting on the social media platform X in February 2025, after a period of absence, "I am a Nazi, I love Hitler." He also made statements such as "I will never trust Jews" and "will not work with Jews," indicating no intention to apologize.

However, West did issue an apology to Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto in November 2025 for his antisemitic comments.

During this meeting, he stated, "I was dealing with various issues, including bipolar disorder. I took my ideas to the extreme and forgot about protecting the people around me, and myself. So I wanted to take responsibility... Sometimes people don’t really understand bipolar disorder, what causes it, or how it affects your behavior. You have this illness. It’s like you left your house and your child stayed behind and made a mess of the kitchen, the garage and the living room. When you come back, it’s your responsibility because it’s your child. That’s how I see it, like I need to clean up the kitchen, the living room, and the garage."

Subsequently, West published another apology in a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal in January.

In the advertisement, he wrote, "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite," attributing his past statements to his experience with bipolar disorder, which he described as causing manic episodes where one "don’t think you’re sick," and admitting he had "lost touch with reality." He concluded by saying, "I deeply regret and am ashamed of my actions."