Streeting said West has “no business” headlining the festival, and that the organizers “should be ashamed of themselves” for a terrible error of judgment.
“These weren’t a couple of off-color remarks,” Streeting told Sky News. “These were, I think, a pattern of behavior.”
He added: “Antisemitism is serious, it can be deadly and people like Kanye West, who have an enormous platform, fame, reach, they have to accept the responsibility that comes with that. And I don’t think he has. I’m only too disappointed the festival organizers are too blind to see it.”
Festival Managing Director Melvin Benn called West’s comments “abhorrent,” but said his songs were played on radio stations and he, for now, has a legal right to enter the U.K. and perform.
Benn said people should “offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do.”
In a recent statement, West said he wanted the opportunity to meet with and listen to members of the Jewish community in the U.K.