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Ye and the director of Wireless Fest have issued statements amid the fallout over the rapper's scheduled headlining performance.
In a statement provided to the BBC on Tuesday, April 7, the artist formerly known as Kanye West acknowledged the backlash he and Wireless Fest have received since he was announced as the headliner of all three nights.
"I've been following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly," he said. "My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music."
"I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen," he added. "I know my words aren't enough - I'll have to show change through my actions. If you're open, I'm here."
Over the past few days, Wireless Fest's decision to book Ye as its headliner was condemned by the UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other members of Parliament. Since then, multiple brands that have been involved with the festival, including its main sponsor Pepsi, have withdrawn their support. Other companies like Diageo, PayPal, and Anheuser-Busch have also pulled their sponsorships. Despite all the backlash, Melvin Benn, the managing director for Wireless Fest's parent company Festival Republic, is defending his decision to book Ye.
"What Ye has said in the past about Jews and Hitler is as abhorrent to me as it is to the Jewish community, the Prime Minister and others that have commented and - taking him at his word - to Ye now also," Benn said. "Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world and I would ask people to reflect on their instant comments of disgust at the likelihood of him performing (as was mine) and offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do."
Wireless Fest is scheduled to go down at London's Finsbury Park from July 10 to July 12.