Australia has revoked the visa of U.S. rapper Kanye West—now legally known as Ye—following the release of a controversial song that glorifies Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
The decision was confirmed on Wednesday by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who cited the artist’s recent track titled "Heil Hitler", released on May 8—the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II.
Ye, 48, has been a frequent visitor to Australia due to his marriage to Australian architect Bianca Censori and family ties in the country. However, Burke said the rapper's latest actions crossed a line.
“He’s made a lot of offensive comments in the past,” Burke told ABC News. “But when officials reviewed his case again after the release of ‘Heil Hitler’, they concluded he no longer meets the requirements for a valid visa.”
The visa in question was not for performance purposes but was of a lower category, according to Burke. He emphasised that Australia has no obligation to admit individuals promoting hate speech or extremist ideologies.
“If you’re going to promote that kind of Nazism, we don’t need that in Australia,” Burke said. “It’s not about popularity—it’s about values.”
When asked whether it was practical to bar a high-profile figure like Ye, Burke responded firmly: “What’s not sustainable is importing hatred.”
He stressed that while Australian citizens enjoy freedom of speech, the government must protect the country from "deliberately importing bigotry."
Immigration authorities are expected to reassess any future visa applications by the rapper.