Kanye West Barred from Entering Australia Over Controversial Song Praising Hitler

Australia (The Uttam Hindu) : American rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, has been blocked from entering Australia after releasing a song that glorifies Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. The decision was confirmed by Australia's Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, who revealed that West’s previously valid visa was revoked following the release of the track titled Heil Hitler in early May. The song, widely condemned for its content, has been banned on major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. It forms part of West’s latest album, WW3, which has drawn sharp criticism for its provocative and offensive lyrics. The music video for Heil Hitler, released on May 8, features a group of men in animal skins chanting the song's title—prompting backlash across the globe.

Minister Burke disclosed the visa cancellation during an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, in the context of a broader discussion on visa denials related to hate speech. "If someone argues that anti-Semitism is rational, I wouldn’t let them into the country," Burke said. "West has visited Australia many times before, but after Heil Hitler was released, my department re-evaluated his status—and he no longer holds a valid visa." While it's unclear whether West is permanently banned, Burke emphasized that visa decisions are reviewed case by case under Australian law. However, he added, "What’s not sustainable is importing hatred—we already have enough challenges here without inviting more bigotry."

This is not the first time Australia has considered banning West. In 2023, Education Minister Jason Clare had criticized the rapper’s offensive remarks about Hitler and the Holocaust, suggesting he could be denied entry. Following backlash over Heil Hitler, which nonetheless garnered millions of views within a day of its release, West claimed he was "done with anti-Semitism" and issued a reworked version of the song titled Hallelujah. This updated version replaced references to Nazism with Christian-themed lyrics.

West has repeatedly come under fire in recent years for his anti-Semitic statements. Earlier in 2025, he declared himself a Nazi and withdrew previous apologies for similar remarks. The controversy has cost him significantly, including the termination of his partnership with Adidas in 2022. While the brand later reached a legal settlement with West, it marked a major fallout in his professional career. Despite his claims of turning over a new leaf, West’s recent actions continue to spark outrage—and have now led to his exclusion from one of his long-visited countries.