MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Ye, the Grammy-winning rapper formerly known as Kanye West, has had his Australian visa revoked following the controversial release of his single "Heil Hitler." Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the decision on Wednesday, highlighting the song's promotion of Nazism and its offensive nature.

Ye, who has been visiting Australia for years, has ties to the country through his wife, Bianca Censori, who hails from Melbourne and has family residing there. Minister Burke emphasized that the song, released in May, was part of a troubling pattern of offensive comments made by the artist. He stated that officials reviewed Ye's remarks and decided that his visa was no longer valid in light of the release of "Heil Hitler."

In a statement to Australian Broadcasting Corp., Burke remarked, “He’s been coming to Australia for a long time. He’s got family here. And he’s made a lot of offensive comments that my officials looked at again once he released the ‘Heil Hitler’ song, and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia.” He added that importing bigotry into the country was not something Australia needed amidst its existing challenges.

Ye's representative has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the visa situation. Under Australia’s Migration Act, there are specific security and character requirements that must be met for non-citizens seeking entry into the country, which Ye has failed to meet due to the nature of his recent work and comments.

The news comes against a backdrop of rising antisemitic incidents in Australia, particularly in its largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. These incidents have increased since the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023. Authorities have warned against the spread of hateful rhetoric and acts of violence linked to this ongoing situation.

Burke’s intervention reflects Australia’s commitment to addressing bigotry and safeguarding social harmony amidst a complex geopolitical landscape. The decision to revoke Ye's visa underscores the seriousness with which the Australian government views hate speech and its potential ramifications on society.

This action against Ye is part of a broader strategy to ensure that individuals entering Australia align with the country’s values of inclusivity and respect for all citizens, irrespective of their background or beliefs.