Gladness Gideon
Australia has revoked the visa of American rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, following the release of a controversial song that glorifies Adolf Hitler, the country’s Home Affairs Minister confirmed on Wednesday.
The track, titled “Heil Hitler,” was released on May 8—coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II—drawing global condemnation for its offensive content and timing.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the decision to cancel Ye’s visa was made after careful consideration by immigration officials, particularly in light of the artist’s recent release, which was deemed to promote Nazi ideology.
“He’s made a lot of offensive comments. But my officials looked at it again once he released the ‘Heil Hitler’ song, and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia,” Burke told the ABC in an interview.
West, whose wife Bianca Censori is Australian, has visited the country multiple times in the past, largely for personal reasons. However, Burke clarified that the cancelled visa was not issued for performance or concert purposes but was nonetheless subject to scrutiny.
“It was a lower-level visa, and the officials still looked at the law and said, ‘You’re going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism – we don’t need that in Australia,’” Burke explained.
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He dismissed concerns about the popularity of the artist, stating that the government prioritises national cohesion over celebrity status. “I think what’s not sustainable is to import hatred,” the minister said.
While affirming that Australian citizens enjoy freedom of speech, Burke noted that immigration policy allows the government to deny entry to foreign nationals promoting hate speech or extremism.
“We have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry,” he added.
The visa cancellation marks the latest in a series of international backlash against Ye, whose recent comments and actions have drawn widespread criticism.