Australia’s Immigration Minister revealed that Kanye West’s visa was revoked due to his promotion of hateful content and antisemitism, underscoring the country’s firm stance against bigotry
Australia has blocked rapper Kanye West from entering the country following the release of his controversial song Heil Hitler, Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed.
Burke explained on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that West, known as Ye, had his valid visa revoked after officials reviewed his offensive remarks tied to the song. “He’s made a lot of offensive comments that my officials looked at again once he released (that) song,” Burke said.
Despite West having family ties in Australia, the visa he held was not for concert purposes but a lower-level category. “Officials still looked at the law and said if you’re going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism, we don’t need that in Australia,” the minister added.
Burke’s comments came during a discussion about Israeli-American tech advocate Hillel Fuld, whose visa was reportedly canceled due to Islamophobic statements.
The Minister clarified that his department “never actually got” an application from Fuld but noted, “If someone argued that antisemitism was rational, I would not let them come here on a speaking tour. And if someone has the same view of Islamophobia, I don’t want them here when the purpose of the visa is to give public speeches.”
He emphasized that stricter standards apply to public advocates but pointed out that West’s visa cancellation was unique because it wasn’t connected to advocacy. Speculation about West’s ability to visit Australia surfaced in 2023, partly because of his marriage to Bianca Censori, who is Australian.
Government official Jason Clare had previously suggested that West’s history of antisemitic remarks would justify visa refusal, but those remarks came before Burke took charge and before the release of Heil Hitler earlier this year.
Burke did not confirm a permanent ban on West, explaining that visa applications are reassessed based on current law. “I’m not taking away the way the act operates, but even for the lowest level of visa, when my officials looked at it, they canceled that following the announcement of that song,” he said.
“We have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry.”
The Grammy-winning hip-hop artist’s new album, WW3, features the track “Heil Hitler,” which includes problematic lyrics. The song reflects Kanye’s recent attitude towards Nazis as the rapper calls himself a “villain,” openly chanting, “Heil Hitler” throughout the song.
In “Heil Hitler,” West makes a series of debatable claims and disses Drake. He raps, “n***as be actin like f****ts so much, I think they might be Drake… they don’t understand the things I say on Twitter… all my n****s Nazis n***a Heil Hitler…”
In a recent X (formerly Twitter) post, the Runaway singer revealed that he is facing issues with performing his new song on stage. He shared: “I’m being told there’s an issue with me performing Hell Hitler. I’m doing Heil Hitler at all my shows.”
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