American rapper Kanye West, alias Ye, has been barred from entering Australia due to a song that eulogizes Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, stirring up a tempest of controversy. Disclosing this information during an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revealed that his department revoked West's valid visa shortly after the release of the contentious track "Heil Hitler" in early May.
The song, which has garnered widespread condemnation, has been blacklisted on numerous platforms. West, who openly identifies with Nazi ideology and is infamous for his anti-Semitic remarks, is married to Australian designer Bianca Censori.
Addressing the visa cancellation amidst a discussion on another individual's visa being revoked over Islamophobic comments, Minister Burke stated emphatically, "If someone advocates that anti-Semitism is justified, I would deny them entry into our country." Citing West's case, Burke added, "[West] has visited Australia numerous times and has made numerous offensive statements. However, upon the release of 'Heil Hitler,' my officials reassessed the situation, resulting in the invalidation of his Australian visa."
It remains uncertain whether West has been permanently banned from entering Australia. Burke clarified that visa applications would be reevaluated as per Australian law each time they are submitted. When quizzed about the sustainability of any visa ban imposed on West, Burke responded, "Importing hatred is unsustainable... Our nation already grapples with numerous issues without deliberately welcoming bigotry."
This is not the first instance where Australia has pondered blocking West's entry. In 2023, Australia's Education Minister Jason Clare had already denounced West's "deplorable" comments regarding Hitler and the Holocaust, hinting at the possibility of denying him entry.
Amidst the intense backlash, "Heil Hitler" amassed millions of views within a day of its release in May. The song, part of West's Grammy-winning album "WW3," also contains other tracks laden with controversial lyrics. The music video for "Heil Hitler," released on May 8th, depicts a group of men clad in animal skins chanting the song's title and has been banned on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Shortly after its release, West claimed to have renounced anti-Semitism and unveiled a new version of "Heil Hitler" titled "Hallelujah." This revised version replaced earlier Nazi references with Christian-themed lyrics.
In recent years, West has repeatedly courted controversy with his anti-Semitic statements. Earlier this year, he declared himself a Nazi and rescinded an apology for his earlier remarks. In 2022, sportswear giant Adidas terminated its partnership with West over his anti-Semitic views. Late last year, the company announced a settlement with him to dissolve all legal disputes between them.
