Kanye West’s Australian visa gets revoked because of song praising Hitler

(MENAFN) Kanye West, the American rapper known for his polarizing statements and controversial music, has been denied entry to Australia following the release of a song that praises Adolf Hitler, according to reports.

Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, confirmed that West’s previously valid visa had been revoked after he released the track Heil Hitler in early May — a song that has since been widely criticized and removed from major platforms.

The artist, who now goes by Ye, has sparked repeated outrage in recent years for openly identifying as a Nazi and for making anti-Semitic remarks. He is currently married to Australian designer Bianca Censori.

In an interview with national media, Burke said his department re-evaluated West's eligibility to enter the country after the release of the offensive track.
"If someone argued that anti-Semitism was rational, I would not let them come here," Burke said, using West's case as an example.
"[West] has been coming to Australia for a long time… and 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."

It remains uncertain whether West is facing a permanent entry ban. Burke explained that visa applications are reviewed individually under Australian law and can change depending on the circumstances. However, he stressed the broader principle guiding the decision:
"I think that what's not sustainable is to import hatred... We have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry."

This is not the first time West’s entry into Australia has been questioned. In 2023, Education Minister Jason Clare publicly denounced West’s “awful” rhetoric regarding Hitler and the Holocaust, suggesting the rapper could be barred from visiting.

Despite public backlash, Heil Hitler rapidly amassed millions of views following its May release. The track is part of West’s album WW3, which includes additional songs featuring provocative content. The accompanying music video, launched on May 8, features a group of men dressed in animal skins chanting the song’s name. It has since been removed from platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Shortly after its release, West announced he was “done with anti-Semitism” and put out a revised version of the song titled Hallelujah, replacing the Nazi-related content with Christian-themed lyrics.

West’s history of inflammatory statements continues to impact his career. In 2022, Adidas severed ties with him over his anti-Semitic remarks. The company later revealed that it had reached a settlement with West to resolve all outstanding legal disputes.

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