Kanye West 'barred from performing at Tottenham's stadium over Spurs links to local Jewish community'

James Saunders
Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:08:39 +0000

Rapper Kanye West had a request to perform at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium turned down over the club's links to the local Jewish community, according to reports.

Just days ago, it was confirmed the controversial hitmaker would be headlining at London's Wireless Festival this summer.

But his appearance has since descended into farce, with sponsors pulling out and even the PM voicing his "concern".

Now, it has emerged that Mr West had tried to perform at the Premier League side's home - but was rebuffed.

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A source told The Sun: "Kanye's team had wanted him to play a run of shows at Tottenham before they considered Wireless.

"As part of his big music comeback, they thought he warranted a headline run of shows and chose the Tottenham stadium as their venue of choice.

"But when they approached Tottenham with their proposal, the club rejected it.

"There was no way they would allow Kanye to perform at the club given its history with the Jewish community."

Spurs have been associated with north London's Jews for more than a century - with fans even reclaiming the antisemtic slur "Y*d" or "Y**do* to identify themselves.

Following the rejection, the Chicago-born rapper's team successfully pitched the concerts to Wireless Festival organisers.

But in light of the artist's history of antisemitic remarks and his song glorifying Adolf Hitler, critics have condemned his festival booking.

Sir Keir Starmer described it as "deeply concerning", telling The Sun on Sunday: "It is deeply concerning that 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 clearly and firmly whatever it appears."

"Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure."

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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood holds the authority to block the rapper's entry under immigration rules.

Pepsi withdrew its sponsorship of Wireless Festival yesterday in protest at Mr West's scheduled performances.

The drinks giant pulled out after learning the rapper would headline all three nights in July in Finsbury Park, north London.

Diageo, the firm behind Captain Morgan rum and Johnnie Walker whisky, followed suit on Sunday evening.

A spokesman said: "We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival."

The July concerts will mark Mr West's first UK performances since headlining Glastonbury in 2015.

He last appeared at Wireless in 2014.

The Jewish Leadership Council condemned the festival's decision to book West as "deeply irresponsible" amid increasing attacks on Britain's Jewish community.

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, described allowing the rapper to perform as "absolutely the wrong decision."

Mr West apologised for his antisemitic comments in January through a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal.

He apologised to Jewish and black people and blamed his bipolar disorder, which he said led him to fall into a "four-month long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life."