Tyler, the Creator used his headline set at All Points East on Friday night (August 28) to criticize former Prime Minister Theresa May, referencing his 2015 UK entry ban and displaying a custom Tube sign as a tribute to London.
Performing in a red leather outfit reminiscent of Michael Jackson's Thriller suit, the rapper addressed the ban imposed by May when she was Home Secretary. He told the crowd, "thank God… Theresa May is gone," adding, "when they banned me that really changed a lot for me," and "she's stupid and now I gotta prove she made a mistake."
Ban and Its Impact
The ban, enacted in 2015, was based on lyrics from his early albums Bastard (2009) and Goblin (2011). It prevented him from entering the UK to perform live until 2019. At the time, a Home Office spokesperson stated: "Coming to the UK is a privilege, and we expect those who come here to respect our shared values." The spokesperson added: "The Home Secretary has the power to exclude an individual if she considers that his or her presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good or if their exclusion is justified on public policy grounds."
London Tribute and Set Highlights
During his set, Tyler displayed a Tube sign reading "Victoria Park," which later changed to "Hackney Wick" as he spoke about his time in London. He described London as a "special place" and noted it was "weird I was bigger in London first than in most parts of America." He also reminded the audience that his first label was XL Recordings, with Adele as a label mate.
Festival Performance and Encore
The set included numerous hits that prompted moshing in the crowd, with Tyler dancing continuously across the stage. He closed with his song "See You Again," leaving the crowd singing and dancing well after he exited. Tyler is scheduled to headline again on Saturday, August 29.
