Why isn t Kanye West banned from uk?

[CoolHands]

For us older readers (99% of PH) Kanye West has said all sorts of antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism, and published swastika images on his clothing brand etc.

He’s now been booked to headline the Wireless Festival in London this summer.

Keir has come out with some ‘concerning’ comments but my question is, why do we not simply ban any tts like this who want to come to the uk?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp86942yj97o
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwywnkdn3zno

[grumbledoak]

Who gets to choose who is allowed in and who is not, in your totalitarian New Britannia?

You alone?

[Terminator X]

Surely ticket sales is the indicator of whether he's welcome or not?

Free speech and all that, worth preserving even if some people seem mad as a box of frogs.

TX.

[tim0409]

We allow thousands of anti semites into our country every week so why single out Kanye West?

If people don’t want to pay to see him they won’t, and if he says anything against the law whilst he is here I’m sure the police will carry out a long and ultimately unsuccessful investigation into his conduct…

[mac96]

grumbledoak said:

Who gets to choose who is allowed in and who is not, in your totalitarian New Britannia?

You alone?

The answer seems to be that corporate sponsors will decide, at least where someone is coming to star in a large event. And that doesn't seem right either even if it seems reasonable in West's case.

[normalbloke]

He won’t be there. The momentum is too great already.

[DeejRC]

Am I the only person who had no idea what on earth all the hoohaa was about him? Last I heard about him he was thinking about being US President.

[redrabbit]

mac96 said:

grumbledoak said:

Who gets to choose who is allowed in and who is not, in your totalitarian New Britannia?

You alone?

The answer seems to be that corporate sponsors will decide, at least where someone is coming to star in a large event. And that doesn't seem right either even if it seems reasonable in West's case.

That was my thought too initially, but on reflection if the festival is only viable with corporate sponsorship (I.e. Pepsi's money) then it's just another commercial decision and Pepsi are obviously well within their rights to withdraw. It's not the same as being banned from entering the country and/or speaking at a public meeting.

[BigMon]

He's a full on thumper so perhaps he'll learn that the right to free speech is hard won and easily lost if you're an idiot.

[grumbledoak]

BigMon said:

He's a full on thumper so perhaps he'll learn that the right to free speech is hard won and easily lost if you're an idiot.

er. You're going to teach someone the value of the right to free speech by punishing them for using it?

how on Earth does that work in your head?

[mac96]

redrabbit said:

mac96 said:

grumbledoak said:

Who gets to choose who is allowed in and who is not, in your totalitarian New Britannia?

You alone?

The answer seems to be that corporate sponsors will decide, at least where someone is coming to star in a large event. And that doesn't seem right either even if it seems reasonable in West's case.

That was my thought too initially, but on reflection if the festival is only viable with corporate sponsorship (I.e. Pepsi's money) then it's just another commercial decision and Pepsi are obviously well within their rights to withdraw. It's not the same as being banned from entering the country and/or speaking at a public meeting.

Yes, you are of course right. He can still come to visit if he wants too. I suppose though, whatever I think of him, a lot of people want to see West perform, and it is those sponsors who will probably prevent them from doing so. Is that right? I don't know. As you say, he wouldn't have been here without them in the first place.

[Purosangue]

grumbledoak said:

Who gets to choose who is allowed in and who is not, in your totalitarian New Britannia?

You alone?

as its Kanye West

how about this guy with girlfriend

[JoshSm]

Isn't he out of his tree, bipolar plus maybe some other stuff?

He said all sorts, but beyond the offended latching onto certain bits to suit themselves why should I care what he said under those conditions?

[ukwill]

grumbledoak said:

Who gets to choose who is allowed in and who is not, in your totalitarian New Britannia?
You alone?

Numerous people have been blocked from entering the UK. I wouldn’t let West in for the exact same reason Mark Weber was refused entrance. Seems to me to be relatively straightforward considering his actions. And besides, West has infinitely greater reach than Weber ever had.

[BigMon]

grumbledoak said:

BigMon said:

He's a full on thumper so perhaps he'll learn that the right to free speech is hard won and easily lost if you're an idiot.

er. You're going to teach someone the value of the right to free speech by punishing them for using it?

how on Earth does that work in your head?

Erm, has he not already had freedom of speech? Freedom of speech is not freedom of consequence.

I couldn't give a flying toss if he is banned from coming here for spouting idiotic rhetoric. Sorry if that offends you.

[GetCarter]

He seems to be popular with lots of young people, even though he has very little talent.

I suggest we let all the people that like his work go listen elsewhere.

(In a galaxy far, far away).

[Diderot]

ukwill said:

grumbledoak said:

Who gets to choose who is allowed in and who is not, in your totalitarian New Britannia?
You alone?

Numerous people have been blocked from entering the UK. I wouldn t let West in for the exact same reason Mark Weber was refused entrance. Seems to me to be relatively straightforward considering his actions. And besides, West has infinitely greater reach than Weber ever had.

He was the British GP last year with Oscar.

[grumbledoak]

BigMon said:

Erm, has he not already had freedom of speech? Freedom of speech is not freedom of consequence.

Utter nonsense. Of course it is.

[BigMon]

grumbledoak said:

BigMon said:

Erm, has he not already had freedom of speech? Freedom of speech is not freedom of consequence.

Utter nonsense. Of course it is.

Well, one of us is spouting nonsense. Certainly.

If you want to go into bat for Kanye West then be my guest. Maybe take a look at the type of person you're going into bat for first, then you might feel a little bit daft.

[grumbledoak]

BigMon said:

Well, one of us is spouting nonsense. Certainly.

If you want to go into bat for Kanye West then be my guest. Maybe take a look at the type of person you're going into bat for first, then you might feel a little bit daft.

I'm only "going into bat" for Freedom of Speech. Try reading about it before next you argue about it.