Tyler, The Creator Says He’s Banned From Entering the UK for Three to Five Years

Photo by Will Deitz

Tyler, the Creator recently cancelled four dates in the UK and Ireland due to unspecified “circumstances.” Today, the reason for the cancellation has been revealed: officials in the United Kingdom are denying him entry for the next 3-5 years on the basis of his lyrical content. 

On Twitter, Tyler wrote:

BASED ON LYRICS FROM 2009 I AM NOT ALLOWED IN THE UK FOR 3-5 YEARS ( although i was there 8 weeks ago) THAT IS WHY THE SHOWS WERE CANCELLED.

— Tyler, The Creator (@fucktyler) August 26, 2015

*listens to last three releases in confusion*

— Tyler, The Creator (@fucktyler) August 26, 2015

Tyler’s manager Christian Clancy has posted a statement on his Tumblr explaining the situation in greater depth. According to Clancy: 

Tyler has been banned from entering the UK for somewhere between 3 to 5 years per a letter from the secretary of state for the home department of the united kingdom. The letter specifically cites lyrics he wrote 6-7 years ago for his albums bastard and goblin – the type of lyrics he hasn’t written since… Highlights from the letter include that his work “encourages violence and intolerance of homosexuality” and “fosters hatred with views thats seek to provoke others to terrorist acts..” i grew up on NWA, eminem and rage against the machine, so its hard to me to fully wrap my head this thought process and its implications.

Clancy points out that Tyler hosted a movie screening in London last month, and has visited the UK “over 20x in the last 5 years without incident (shows, in stores, meet and greets).”

He adds, “This is a broader issue of free speech, with new lines being drawn that include reaching back in time without acknowledging growth. In fact, punishing growth.”

Earlier this summer, Tyler canceled his Australian tour following pressure from feminist group Collective Shout, who campaigned for the government to reject Tyler’s visa application on the basis of his lyrical content, as well as his behavior during past tours.

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