Why Australia Just Banned Kanye West—Again

July 2, 2025: Australia has officially revoked Kanye West’s visa following the release of his controversial song Heil Hitler, which sparked global outrage for promoting Nazi ideology.

The rapper, who now goes by Ye, shared the track on streaming platforms and social media in May, prompting swift backlash. On Wednesday, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the visa cancellation was triggered by the song—not Ye’s previous inflammatory statements.

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“It was a lower-level visa, and officials still reviewed the law and said: you’re going to release a song and promote Nazism—we don’t need that in Australia,” Burke told ABC News. “We already have enough problems in this country without deliberately importing bigotry.”

Though Ye had previously made headlines with remarks like “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi,” the Australian government did not act at that time. But the Heil Hitler track, with its explicit Nazi reference, crossed a red line for authorities and sparked renewed condemnation from Jewish organizations and human rights groups in the country.

Ye has personal ties to Australia—he’s visited multiple times since marrying Melbourne-born architect Bianca Censori in December 2022. However, Burke made it clear that family connections weren’t enough to overlook the artist’s track record of hate speech.

While the exact date of the visa cancellation has not been revealed, Ye’s team has so far declined to comment. Australia has previously denied entry to controversial public figures. In 2024, conservative commentator Candace Owens was blocked from entering, with Burke stating, “Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.”