Australia cancels Kanye West visa over Hitler song
Kanye West has been going to Australia for some time 'because he has family in the country'. File photo: Reuters
Australia has cancelled US rapper Kanye West's visa over his song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, the government said on Wednesday.
The 48-year-old musician, who has legally changed his name to Ye, released "Heil Hitler" on May 8, the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II
West – whose wife Bianca Censori is Australian – has been coming to Australia for some time because he has family in the country, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.
"He's made a lot of offensive comments," Burke said.
"But my officials looked at it again once he released the 'Heil Hitler' song and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia."
Burke said the rapper's cancelled visa was not intended for holding concerts.
"It was a lower level, and the officials still looked at the law and said: You're going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism – we don't need that in Australia," he told public broadcaster ABC.
Asked if it was sustainable to bar such a popular figure, the minister said: "I think what's not sustainable is to import hatred."
But he said immigration officials reassess each visa application.
Australian citizens have freedom of speech, Burke added.
"But we have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry." (AFP)
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