Kanye West entry visa revoked by Australia after ‘Heil Hitler' song release
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Ye had been travelling for years to Australia, where his wife, Bianca Censori, was born. Her family lives in Melbourne.
Burke said Heil Hitler promotes Nazism. The song, released in May, has been criticized as an antisemitic tribute to German dictator Adolf Hitler. It's also been banned in Germany and from online platforms including Apple Music, YouTube and Spotify.
The song includes a direct sample from a speech Hitler gave in 1935 and repeats the slogan hailing the German dictator.
'He's been coming to Australia for a long time. He's got family here. And he's made a lot of offensive comments that my officials looked at again once he released the Heil Hitler song and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia,' Burke told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Story continues below advertisement
'If you're going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism, we don't need that in Australia,' Burke added. 'We have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry.'
He noted that the Australian government had not banned Ye from entering Australia permanently because 'every visa application gets reassessed by my officials each time.'
'I'm not taking away the way the act operates, but even for the lowest level of visa, when my officials looked at it, they cancelled that following the announcement of that song,' he added.
Australia's Migration Act sets security and character requirements for non-citizens to enter the country.
A spokesperson for the home affairs department told the Guardian Australia that the 'government will continue to act decisively to protect the community from the risk of harm posed by individuals who choose to engage in criminal activity or behaviour of concern, including visa cancellation or refusal where appropriate.'
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Ye and his representatives have not commented on the visa revocation.
3:55
Kanye West storms out of interview with Piers Morgan
This isn't the first time Australia has considered blocking West from entering the country. In 2023, Australia's education minister, Jason Clare, condemned Ye's 'awful' antisemitic comments involving Hitler and the Holocaust, saying others who have made similar statements have been denied visas.
Story continues below advertisement
'People like that who've applied for visas to get into Australia in the past have been rejected,' Clare told CNN affiliate Nine News in January 2023. 'I expect that if he does apply he would have to go through the same process and answer the same questions that they did.'
Ye has a years-long history of making antisemitic remarks.
Earlier this year, West's Yeezy.com was removed from Shopify after it featured a single product: white T-shirts with a black swastika in the centre, under the product name HH-01.
In a statement to Global News, a Shopify spokesperson said, 'All merchants are responsible for following the rules of our platform. This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms so we removed them from Shopify.'
In February, West used his X account to share his controversial and antisemitic thoughts, including identifying as a Nazi and claiming to 'love Hitler.' On Feb. 9, it appeared that West had deactivated his X account for a short amount of time before reactivating it.
He was also dropped by his talent agency, 33&West, following his antisemitic rants on X.
0:28
AI-generated deepfake video shows Jewish celebrities denouncing Kanye West
Daniel McCartney, the rapper's former music agent, announced that West had been removed from the agency's roster of clients as of Feb. 10.
Story continues below advertisement
'Effective immediately, I'm no longer representing YE (F/K/A Kanye West) due to his harmful and hateful remarks that myself nor 33 & West can stand for,' McCartney wrote in an Instagram Stories post.
'Peace and love to all.'
The Anti-Defamation League also released a statement with regard to West's recent posts and his website, writing, 'As if we needed further proof of Kanye's antisemitism, he chose to put a single item for sale on his website – a t-shirt emblazoned with a swastika.'
'The swastika is the symbol adopted by Hitler as the primary emblem of the Nazis. It galvanized his followers in the 20th century and continues to threaten and instill fear in those targeted by antisemitism and white supremacy,' the post continued.
'If that wasn't enough, the t-shirt is labeled on Kanye's website as 'HH-01,' which is code for 'Heil Hitler.'
'Kanye was tweeting vile antisemitism nonstop since last week. There's no excuse for this kind of behavior. Even worse, Kanye advertised his website during the Super Bowl, amplifying it beyond his already massive social media audience.'
— With files from The Associated Press
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
5 hours ago
- Global News
Carney says Trump's multiple objectives demand ‘nimble' trade talk strategy
Prime Minister Mark Carney says as he continues to negotiate a new security and trade deal with the U.S., he's staying 'nimble,' as he says Canada's southern neighbour has 'multiple' objectives for its talks with various countries, including what could benefit its revenue and budget. 'When the person you're dealing with, the country you're dealing with has multiple objectives, jumps around a bit and you've got to be nimble,' Carney told Global News' Joel Senick in a one-on-one interview at the Calgary Stampede. Carney said from his perspective, U.S. President Donald Trump is juggling several factors, ranging from China to trade to the country's overall finances. 'Some of it's strategic competition with China. Sometimes it's just whether or not they can have a trade balance,' he said. 'Some of it's about revenue, for their budget, and of course it's jobs for workers, (and) also issues around the border.' Story continues below advertisement The prime minister's comments come only a few days after trade talks restarted between the two countries following Trump's brief termination over Canada's digital services tax, which the federal government announced last Sunday it had been rescinded. On Monday, Carney told reporters rescinding the tax was part of a 'bigger negotiation,' though he did not elaborate or say if Canada had received anything in exchange. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the tax would have been a 'deal breaker' for any trade deal and that he appreciated the removal by Canada. 5:12 How close is Mark Carney to striking a deal on tariffs with U.S. President Donald Trump? Questioned on the removal of the tax on Saturday, Carney said it also happened at 'basically the same time' as a series of other taxes being taken off the table by other countries as part of a broader G7 plan. Story continues below advertisement He did not specify what taxes, but following the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., Canada's Department of Finance announced the G7 had agreed the U.S. would be exempt from applying a 15 per cent minimum corporate tax rate. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The move appeared to be a counter to U.S. plans to apply a so-called 'revenge' tax on other countries that would impose taxes on companies with foreign owners, as well as investors from countries judged as charging 'unfair foreign taxes' on U.S. companies. Pressed further on how Carney is approaching negotiations with Trump, the prime minister said the 'best thing in a negotiation' is that people know what the other party is trying to achieve. 'We're looking out for the jobs of Canadians not just today, but in the longer term and making it clear to the president, but also Americans that there's tremendous opportunity for us working together,' Carney said. The two countries set a goal at the end of the G7 to reach a deal within 30 days, specifically July 21, a date that remained in place even after the brief disruption earlier this week. 2:13 Canada making progress on lifting interprovincial trade barriers: report But as negotiations continue, it also provides a 'tremendous opportunity' for Canadians to build together — a sentiment Carney has repeated multiple times, including during the federal election campaign. Story continues below advertisement 'Whether it's building conventional energy, pipelines to tidewater, whether it's building SMR (small modular) reactors, building artificial intelligence, life sciences, all these things, we can give ourselves far more than any trading relationship, even a trading relationship with the United States,' he said. Building has been a key element for the federal government, with its major projects bill becoming law last week. Bill C-5, which gives Ottawa the power to fast-track projects intended to boost the national economy by sidestepping environmental protections and other legislation, also includes efforts to reduce federal barriers to internal trade. The goal under the bill is to approve such projects within two years. Trump and Carney's goal of reaching a deal by July 21 is swiftly approaching, and while he spoke about the objectives Trump has with his trade talks, the prime minister said they're looking at two things to help Canadian workers and the economy in those discussions. 'The first is, of course, access to the U.S. market, access we have as closely as possible as we do have today under current trading arrangements. It won't be exactly the same but as close as possible,' he said. 'But also stability; stability and greater certainty. That's worth a lot, because that anchor will help us decide which projects we're going to do as a country and how we're going to move forward.' Story continues below advertisement —with files from Global News' Joel Senick
Global News
6 hours ago
- Global News
Elon Musk says he's formed new ‘America Party.' What to know
A day after asking his followers on X whether a new U.S. political party should be created, Elon Musk said on Saturday that the 'America Party is formed.' 'By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!' he said in a post on X. 'Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.' The announcement from Musk comes after President Donald Trump signed a tax-cut and spending bill into law on Friday, which the billionaire chief executive officer of Tesla fiercely opposed. 0:50 Elon Musk regrets Trump posts on X: 'I went too far' Musk spent hundreds of millions on Trump's re-election and led the Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration aimed at slashing government spending, but the two have since fallen out over disagreements about the bill. Story continues below advertisement Trump earlier this week threatened to cut off the billions of dollars in subsidies that Musk's companies receive from the federal government. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Musk said previously that he would start a new political party and spend money to unseat lawmakers who supported the bill. Republicans have expressed concern that Musk's on-again, off-again feud with Trump could hurt their chances to protect their majority in the 2026 midterm congressional elections. (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by David Gregorio and Diane Craft)
Global News
7 hours ago
- Global News
Trump branded, browbeat and prevailed. But his big bill may come at a political cost
Barack Obama had the Affordable Care Act. Joe Biden had the Inflation Reduction Act. President Donald Trump will have the tax cuts. All were hailed in the moment and became ripe political targets in campaigns that followed. In Trump's case, the tax cuts may almost become lost in the debates over other parts of the multitrillion-dollar bill that Democrats say will force poor Americans off their health care and overturn a decade or more of energy policy. Through persuasion and browbeating, Trump forced nearly all congressional Republicans to line up behind his marquee legislation despite some of its unpalatable pieces. He followed the playbook that had marked his life in business before politics. He focused on branding — labeling the legislation the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' — then relentlessly pushed to strong-arm it through Congress, solely on the votes of Republicans. But Trump's victory will soon be tested during the 2026 midterm elections where Democrats plan to run on a durable theme: that the Republican president favors the rich on tax cuts over poorer people who will lose their health care. Story continues below advertisement Trump and Republicans argue that those who deserve coverage will retain it. Nonpartisan analysts, however, project significant increases to the number of uninsured. Meanwhile, the GOP's promise that the bill will turbocharge the economy will be tested at a time of uncertainty and trade turmoil. Trump has tried to counter the notion of favoring the rich with provisions that would reduce the taxes for people paid in tips and receiving overtime pay, two kinds of earners who represent a small share of the workforce. Extending the tax cuts from Trump's first term that were set to expire if Congress failed to act meant he could also argue that millions of people would avoid a tax increase. To enact that and other expensive priorities, Republicans made steep cuts to Medicaid that ultimately belied Trump's promise that those on government entitlement programs 'won't be affected.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The biggest thing is, he's answering the call of the forgotten people. That's why his No. 1 request was the no tax on tips, the no tax on overtime, tax relief for seniors,' said Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. 'I think that's going to be the big impact.' Hard to reap the rewards Presidents have seen their signature legislative accomplishments unraveled by their successors or become a significant political liability for their party in subsequent elections. Story continues below advertisement A central case for Biden's reelection was that the public would reward the Democrat for his legislative accomplishments. That never bore fruit as he struggled to improve his poll numbers driven down by concerns about his age and stubborn inflation. Since taking office in January, Trump has acted to gut tax breaks meant to boost clean energy initiatives that were part of Biden's landmark health care-and-climate bill. Obama's health overhaul, which the Democrat signed into law in March 2010, led to a political bloodbath in the midterms that fall. Its popularity only became potent when Republicans tried to repeal it in 2017. Whatever political boost Trump may have gotten from his first-term tax cuts in 2017 did not help him in the 2018 midterms, when Democrats regained control of the House, or in 2020 when he lost to Biden. 'I don't think there's much if any evidence from recent or even not-so-recent history of the president's party passing a big one-party bill and getting rewarded for it,' said Kyle Kondik, an elections analyst with the nonpartisan University of Virginia's Center for Politics. Social net setbacks Democrats hope they can translate their policy losses into political gains. During an Oval Office appearance in January, Trump pledged he would 'love and cherish Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid.' Story continues below advertisement 'We're not going to do anything with that, other than if we can find some abuse or waste, we'll do something,' Trump said. 'But the people won't be affected. It will only be more effective and better.' That promise is far removed from what Trump and the Republican Party ultimately chose to do, paring back not only Medicaid but also food assistance for the poor to make the math work on their sweeping bill. It would force 11.8 million more people to become uninsured by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office, whose estimates the GOP has dismissed. 'In Trump's first term, Democrats in Congress prevented bad outcomes. They didn't repeal the (Affordable Care Act), and we did COVID relief together. This time is different,' said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. 'Hospitals will close, people will die, the cost of electricity will go up, and people will go without food.' Some unhappy Republicans Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., repeatedly argued the legislation would lead to drastic coverage losses in his home state and others, leaving them vulnerable to political attacks similar to what Democrats faced after they enacted 'Obamacare.' With his warnings unheeded, Tillis announced he would not run for reelection, after he opposed advancing the bill and enduring Trump's criticism. 'If there is a political dimension to this, it is the extraordinary impact that you're going to have in states like California, blue states with red districts,' Tillis said. 'The narrative is going to be overwhelmingly negative in states like California, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey.' Story continues below advertisement Even Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who eventually became the decisive vote in the Senate that ensured the bill's passage, said the legislation needed more work and she urged the House to revise it. Lawmakers there did not. Early polling suggests that Trump's bill is deeply unpopular, including among independents and a healthy share of Republicans. White House officials said their own research does not reflect that. So far, it's only Republicans celebrating the victory. That seems OK with the president. In a speech in Iowa after the bill passed, he said Democrats only opposed it because they 'hated Trump.' That didn't bother him, he said, 'because I hate them, too.'
