In an unexpected turn of events, the Australian government has revoked American rapper Kanye West's valid visa following the release of a controversial song that glorifies Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. The song, titled "Heil Hitler," was released in early May and has been widely condemned, leading to its ban on most platforms.
West, who goes by the name "Ye," has long been associated with anti-Semitic remarks and has identified as a Nazi. Australia's Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, disclosed the visa cancellation in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Minister Burke explained that West's visa was cancelled due to the release of "Heil Hitler," and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia. He further stated, "If someone argued that anti-Semitism was rational, I would not let them come here." He added that West had made several offensive comments in the past but the release of the controversial song led to a reevaluation of his visa application.
It is unclear if West has been permanently banned from Australia, with Minister Burke stating that visa applications are reassessed each time they are made in accordance with Australian law. However, he did emphasize that importing hatred is not sustainable and the country already has enough problems without deliberately importing bigotry.
This is not the first time Australia has considered blocking West. In 2023, Australia's education minister Jason Clare had also condemned West's comments on Hitler and the Holocaust, suggesting he could be denied entry.
The controversial song "Heil Hitler" gained millions of views within a day of its release in May. The song is part of West's new album WW3, which also contains other tracks with controversial lyrics. The music video for the song, released on 8 May, shows a group of men wearing animal skins and chanting the song's title. It has been banned on streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
West, however, has since released a new version of the song titled "Hallelujah," replacing earlier references to Nazism with lyrics relating to Christianity. West has been causing controversy for his anti-Semitic remarks for several years. Earlier this year, he declared himself a Nazi and retracted an apology for earlier comments.
In 2022, sportswear giant Adidas announced it was ending its partnership with West over his anti-Semitism. The company said it had reached a settlement with West to end all legal proceedings between them late last year.
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