Australia Revokes Kanye West’s Visa Over ‘Heil Hitler’ Song and Promotion of Nazi Ideology
The Australian government has revoked the visa of controversial American rapper Kanye West – now legally known as Ye – following the release of a song titled “Heil Hitler”, which authorities say promotes Nazi ideology.
The decision was confirmed on Tuesday by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who said the artist’s latest track, released in May, triggered a formal reassessment of his visa eligibility. Although West’s earlier antisemitic remarks – including statements like “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi”, posted on X – had not previously led to action, Burke said the new song crossed a line.
“It was a lower-level visa, and officials reviewed the law again,” Burke explained. “If you’re going to release a song that glorifies Nazism, we don’t need that in Australia. We have enough problems without importing bigotry.”
West has longstanding personal ties to Australia, primarily through his marriage to Australian architect Bianca Censori, and was previously a frequent visitor. However, Burke’s office did not disclose the exact date the visa was rescinded or whether West had plans to visit in the near future.
The visa cancellation aligns with a growing pattern of strict entry bans in Australia based on hate speech or inflammatory conduct. In recent months, the country has also denied entry to pro-Israel influencer Hillel Fuld and U.S. political commentator Candace Owens, citing concerns over divisive rhetoric.
West, once widely acclaimed for his musical achievements, has in recent years drawn widespread backlash for a series of inflammatory and antisemitic public statements. His repeated praise for Adolf Hitler and open alignment with Nazi ideology have led to severed business ties, widespread condemnation, and increasing legal and diplomatic scrutiny.
The visa revocation further isolates the artist internationally and reinforces Australia’s zero-tolerance stance on hate speech and extremism.
