Australia Cancels Ye Visa Over Antisemitic Nazi-Themed Song

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the cancellation of US rapper Ye's (formerly Kanye West) visa following the release of his song 'Heil Hitler,' which promotes Nazism and contains antisemitic content. The visa, which was a lower-level entry permit not intended for concerts, was revoked because Ye's song and history of offensive comments were deemed incompatible with Australia's Migration Act, which enforces security and character requirements. Burke emphasized Australia's stance against importing bigotry amidst rising antisemitism in the country, especially given Ye's prior controversial actions, such as wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit and being banned from Twitch for hateful speech. Ye, who has family ties in Australia through his Australian-born wife Bianca Censori, has faced widespread backlash, including petitions in Slovakia to bar his performances. The cancellation is part of broader consequences Ye faces due to his antisemitic remarks, with platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud removing his related songs. Australian officials reiterated that each visa application would be reassessed, but that promoting hate speech and Nazism is unacceptable in Australia.