The artist formerly known as Kanye West’s recently confirmed three-night stint in London as part of the 2026 Wireless Festival has spurred a response from the mayor’s office.
This week, following speculation among fans that Ye would be headlining the festival at Finsbury Park, organizers confirmed that he would indeed be performing across three separate nights: July 10, July 11, and July 12. The announcement was preceded by the release of Ye’s long-teased new album, Bully, which itself followed a full-page Wall Street Journal ad in which the 24-time Grammy winner apologized to the Black and Jewish communities.
Now, a spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan has addressed the booking, clarifying that it did involve City Hall.
“We are clear that the past comments and actions of this artist are offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values,” a spokesperson told Complex on Wednesday (April 1). “This was a decision taken by the festival organizers and not one that City Hall is involved in.”
In the WSJ ad, published in January, Ye reflected on a car accident 25 years prior that left him with “injury to the right frontal lobe” of his brain that he says wasn’t “properly diagnosed” until 2023. Ye also spoke about his struggles with bipolar disorder, as well as affirmed that he is “not a Nazi or an antisemite” despite past remarks.
“In early 2025, I fell into a four-month long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid, and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life,” he said. “As the situation became increasingly unsustainable, there were times I didn’t want to be here anymore.”
In the closing lines of the statement, Ye said he was “not asking for sympathy, or a free pass.” Instead, he added, he aspires to “earn” forgiveness while working to “find my way home.”
This week, Ye will take the stage for two shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. While a final setlist remains to be confirmed, speculation is high that the first show (slated for April 1) will include a mix of tracks from across Ye’s catalog.
