Pepsi and Diageo have withdrawn from London’s upcoming Wireless Festival amid growing outrage over the decision to book Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, for a massive three-day headline slot.
On Sunday, beverage heavyweight Pepsi officially severed ties with the music event, ending a nearly decade-long run of the event being billed as ‘Pepsi MAX Presents Wireless.’ While Pepsi abstained from mentioning Ye by name, their departure followed intense public scrutiny.
A Pepsi spokesperson said: “Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival.”
Within hours, Diageo, the global spirits distributor behind Captain Morgan and Johnnie Walker, also pulled its sponsorship. A spokesperson said: “We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival.”
Both corporations had been facing mounting digital pressure from critics who argued that funding the festival was tantamount to endorsing its controversial main act.
Kanye West’s Antisemitic Remarks
Kanye West has previously been condemned over his antisemitic remarks.
The 48-year-old US rapper – who has not performed in the UK since he headlined Glastonbury in 2015 – is set to top the bill for all three nights of the festival in London’s Finsbury Park in July.
In the time since he last performed on UK soil, West has drawn criticism for antisemitic X posts, a Super Bowl advert directing people to a swastika T-shirt and a song referencing Hitler.
Sir Keir said it was “deeply concerning” that West has been booked “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”.
“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure,” the prime minister said.
West, also known as Ye, has been barred from X over antisemitism on multiple occasions.
In January, West took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal to apologise, titled: “To Those I’ve Hurt.” “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it said. “I love Jewish people.”
