The Australian federal government has revoked Kanye West’s visa due to his promotion of Nazism in his recent single. Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke announced this decision during an ABC interview, highlighting it is part of a broader effort to cancel visas for individuals expressing Islamophobic and antisemitic views.
Burke noted that while many visas are cancelled following public statements, West’s situation was unique as it stemmed from his musical release rather than an advocacy speech. The song titled Heil Hitler, which debuted on May 8—the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat—samples a speech by Adolf Hitler and has been banned in Germany.
The minister indicated that despite West’s longstanding ties to Australia, including family connections, his history of making inflammatory remarks and the recent release of the song prompted a reevaluation and subsequent cancellation of his visa. Burke confirmed that the visa was not for concert-related activities and stressed the need to prevent the spread of hatred in Australia.
When pressed about the implications of cancelling a celebrity’s visa, Burke firmly stated that Australia should not welcome bigotry, emphasising that the nation is already grappling with its own societal issues. He noted that while freedom of speech is vital for Australians, there is no need to import divisive ideologies.
The Minister also stated that immigration officials will review any future applications from West to restore his visa.