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Tyler, the Creator comments on Theresa May resignation four years after she banned him from UK

When May was Home Secretary, she banned the rapper from entering the UK for up to five years

Jacob Stolworthy
Friday 24 May 2019 18:04 BST
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Theresa May's full speech as she announces her resignation

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Tyler, the Creator has spoken out after Theresa May resigned as Prime Minister.

In 2015, May – who was then Home Secretary – banned the rapper from entering the UK for up to five years due to lyrics in his album Bastard and Goblin. She said that they “encourage[d] violence and intolerance of homosexuality” and “foster[ed] hatred wit views that seek to provoke other to terrorist acts.”

Her decision forced Tyler to cancel tour dates at Reading and Leeds festival.

“Coming to the UK is a privilege,” a letter from the government said at the time, “and we expect those who come here to respect our shared values”.

After May addressed the nation to tell them she was stepping down as Prime Minister, Tyler – who announced three London shows earlier this week – tweeted: “Theresa gone, I’m back.”

Tyler, the Creator’s ban was reportedly lifted earlier this year. It is understood that the rapper arrived at Luton Airport in the early hours of the morning on 18 May.

said in a 2015 interview with The Guardian that he believed the ban was motivated by racism. “I was starting to think that they did not like the fact that their children were idolising a black man,” he said.

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