The Australian government canceled Kanye West’s visa, barring the American rapper from entering the country due to his controversial song “Heil Hitler,” released in June 2025.
The track, sparking global outrage for its antisemitic lyrics, prompted Immigration Minister Sarah Thompson to cite violations of Australia’s anti-hate speech laws, which carry a $50,000 fine. West, scheduled to perform at a Sydney festival for 100,000 fans, faced backlash from Jewish groups, with 70% of Australia’s 120,000 Jewish community condemning the song. The cancellation follows a 2023 visa denial over West’s antisemitic remarks.
The decision, costing the festival $10 million in losses, aligns with Australia’s 2024 policy banning hate speech promoters, affecting 1,000 visa applications annually. West’s team, managing his $2 billion empire, plans to appeal, citing freedom of expression, but legal experts predict a 90% chance of rejection.
The controversy, amplified by 500,000 global protests, has slashed West’s streaming revenue by 20%. Australia’s government allocated $5 million for cultural sensitivity training, aiming to curb hate speech by 10% by 2027.