Pepsi have withdrawn their sponsorship of Wireless Festival following backlash over the decision to book Kanye West as this year’s headliner.
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The controversial rapper, who now goes by Ye, has been announced as the headliner for all three nights of the festival in London’s Finsbury Park in July, with the shows having been described as a three-night journey through his “most iconic records”.
The booking has prompted widespread criticism, including from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who said it is “deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous anti-Semitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also spoke out against the decision, saying Ye’s past comments and actions are “not reflective of London’s values”, while groups including the Jewish Leadership Council and the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism have come out against the booking too.
Now, Pepsi, who are the primary sponsors of Wireless, have cut ties with the festival. A spokesperson from the company confirmed to the Mirror: “Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival.”
The festival had been branded ‘Pepsi MAX presents Wireless’, with the partnership dating back to 2015.
NME have contacted Wireless Festival for comment.
YE LIVE AT WIRELESS. FINSBURY PARK. LONDON.
THREE NIGHTS…
10 JULY
11 JULY
12 JULY
★ 48hr @PayPalUK presale: 12PM BST Tue 31 March*
★ Wireless presale: 12PM BST Tue 7 April – Sign up in our bio for access
★ General onsale: 12PM BST Wed 8 April
@PepsiUK pic.twitter.com/p200lgktdL
— Wireless Festival (@WirelessFest) March 30, 2026
West’s anti-Semitic remarks began when he made a series of offensive comments on social media in 2022. His remarks saw his accounts on both Instagram and Twitter suspended, and the musician was dropped by his lawyer, talent agency and record label, along with fashion brands such as Balenciaga and Adidas.
At first, West gave several interviews, refusing to apologise for making the comments while suggesting that Jewish people should “forgive Hitler”. However, in 2023, West would deliver an apology to the Jewish community, going on to blame alcohol for his behaviour the following year.
In the wake of that initial apology, numerous lawsuits have been filed against the rapper with claims of extensive anti-Semitic behaviour. One former employee alleged that the rapper said Jewish people were “working together to hold him back”.
Another former employee claimed he used antisemitic language in the workplace and praised Hitler – something for which he allegedly paid a settlement for. In 2024, a separate ex-employee accused him of being openly anti-Semitic in front of his staff.
West would share a number of highly controversial posts in early 2025, when he took back an apology he previously made to the Jewish community for anti-Semitic remarks, and then declared himself “a Nazi”. West then claimed on X/Twitter that, “after further reflection”, he’d “come to the realisation that I’m not a Nazi”, followed only a few days later by yet more swastika apparel appearing on his X page.
West has since apologised for his actions by meeting with a rabbi and taking out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal broadcasting a separate apology.
However, he did not address the ongoing controversy while kicking off his tour earlier this week, but did tell the crowd at the SoFi Stadium: “Tonight we’re going to put all this behind us, ain’t that right LA?” on Friday (April 3).
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