Camilla Jessen
Visa revoked over lyrics deemed to incite hate.
Kanye West is no longer allowed to enter Australia after authorities revoked his visa due to his recent song “Heil Hitler,” which contains lyrics widely condemned as anti-Semitic, according to the BBC.
The track was released in early May.
The song was quickly removed from nearly all major streaming platforms following public backlash.
Its content prompted Australia’s Department of Home Affairs to reassess West’s eligibility to visit the country.
Australia Says No to “Importing Hate”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed on Wednesday that West’s visa had been canceled.
Speaking to public broadcaster ABC, Burke said the decision was not only based on the new song but also on West’s long history of inflammatory comments.
“He has been coming to Australia for many years and has made many offensive statements. However, my officials reassessed the situation after he released the song ‘Heil Hitler’ and now he no longer has a valid visa,” Burke explained.
The minister stressed that Australia must not be a destination for figures promoting hate: “What is not sustainable is importing hate. We have enough problems in this country without intentionally bringing bigotry to others.”
Not His First Brush with Controversy in Australia
This isn’t the first time West has faced scrutiny from Australian officials.
In 2023, Education Minister Jason Clare criticized West for comments downplaying the Holocaust and voiced opposition to his entry into the country.
The recent visa cancellation appears to be a final step following years of warnings and growing concern over the rapper’s public statements and behavior.
Song Triggered Swift International Reaction
“Heil Hitler” was part of West’s new album, WW3, and featured controversial lyrics and visuals.
The accompanying video, uploaded on May 8, showed men in animal skins chanting the song’s title—a portrayal that was widely seen as glorifying Nazi ideology.
After backlash, the track and video were pulled from Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other platforms.
West later released a reworked version titled “Hallelujah,” replacing the Nazi references with Christian-themed lyrics.
Kanye West has been at the center of numerous controversies in recent years.
Earlier in 2025, he stated publicly that he considered himself a Nazi, retracting earlier apologies for previous anti-Semitic remarks.
In 2022, Adidas terminated its partnership with West over similar incidents. A legal battle followed, which was settled in late 2024 with both sides agreeing to end litigation.
