By Kanye West’s scheduled headline appearance at the Wireless Festival in London is unraveling fast — and not because of the music. Four major corporate sponsors have now pulled their branding from the event, triggered by widespread backlash over the rapper’s well-documented history of antisemitic statements and pro-Nazi content.
The controversy is putting the July 10–12 festival in Finsbury Park under serious pressure, and the fallout shows no signs of stopping.
Pepsi Leads the Sponsor Exodus
Pepsi was the first major brand to walk. The company announced on Sunday that it is withdrawing from its decade-long co-branding deal with Wireless Festival — a partnership that had been in place since 2015. The festival had officially been known as “Pepsi MAX Presents Wireless,” making the exit both financially and symbolically significant.
Pepsi’s statement did not mention Kanye West by name. But the timing was unmistakable — the announcement came hours after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly condemned the booking.
Shortly after Pepsi’s announcement, Diageo — the parent company of Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan — confirmed it was also pulling its sponsorship. Two major alcohol brands gone in a single day.
Rockstar and PayPal Follow
The sponsor withdrawal continued into Monday. Sources told Variety that Rockstar Energy Drink is also withdrawing its sponsorship from Wireless Festival in London. The BBC separately reported that PayPal will no longer allow its branding to be used at the event, though it has apparently not pulled out in a complete formal capacity.
As of Monday morning, April 6, all four brands were still listed on the festival’s official website. Remaining sponsors include Budweiser, Beatbox, and Drip.
The fact that pulled sponsors remain on the site — even temporarily — reflects how fast-moving this situation is. Festival organizers have not yet issued a detailed public response to the mass withdrawal.
UK Prime Minister Condemns the Booking
Prime Minister Keir Starmer made his position unambiguous. In a statement to the British newspaper The Sun, Starmer said the booking was “deeply concerning” given Kanye West’s prior antisemitic remarks and what he described as a celebration of Nazism.
“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears,” Starmer said. “Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.”
This is notable. A sitting prime minister weighing in on a music festival booking is rare. It signals just how politically charged the Kanye West Wireless Festival situation has become — well beyond typical celebrity controversy territory.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey went further, calling for Kanye West to be banned from entering the UK entirely. Davey argued that the country needs to “get tougher on antisemitism.”
London Mayor and Politicians Speak Out
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also distanced the city government from the festival. A spokesperson for the Mayor stated that Kanye West’s past comments and actions are “offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values.”
The Mayor’s office emphasized that the Wireless Festival booking was a decision made by private organizers — not by City Hall. Even so, the statement adds political weight to the growing pile of opposition Kanye West is facing ahead of the festival.
Jewish leaders in the UK have been equally direct. The Jewish Leadership Council called the booking “deeply irresponsible,” stating that Kanye West has “repeatedly used his platform to spread antisemitism and pro-Nazi messaging.” The council urged any venue or festival to reconsider before giving the rapper a platform.
Kanye West’s Troubled History and Recent Comeback
The context matters here. Kanye West’s antisemitism controversy is not a recent development.
In May 2025, he released a song titled “Heil Hitler,” which was subsequently banned from all major streaming platforms. He later released a renamed version — “Hallelujah” — with Nazi references replaced by Christian lyrics. Earlier in 2025, he sold swastika T-shirts online before the site was taken down.
In January 2026, Kanye West published a full-page apology advertisement in the Wall Street Journal. In it, he acknowledged disturbing behavior and stated he had been receiving treatment for a brain condition, saying a “four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life.” He followed the ad with a written Q&A published by Vanity Fair — though the magazine noted the interview was conducted entirely by email, not in person. Critics questioned whether he wrote the answers himself.
Despite the skepticism, his US comeback has shown commercial momentum. Kanye West played two nights at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area, with guest appearances from Lauryn Hill, Travis Scott, and Don Toliver. His latest album, Bully, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 — his first major chart entry in some time.
At SoFi, he told the crowd: “They said I’d never be back in the States. Two sold-out concerts, baby!” He made no public reference to the antisemitism controversy during either performance.
Wireless Festival Sponsors: Who Is Still In?
With Pepsi, Diageo, Rockstar, and PayPal now on their way out, the remaining Wireless Festival sponsor list looks considerably thinner. As of early April 6, the following brands are still listed on the official festival website:
- Budweiser
- Beatbox
- Drip
That’s a notable drop in corporate backing for a festival that had been positioned as one of the UK’s premier urban music events. It’s unclear whether pressure on the remaining sponsors will intensify as the July dates approach.
The Wireless Festival in London has historically attracted major headliners and strong corporate investment. Losing its title sponsor — Pepsi — is a significant blow to the event’s commercial positioning, regardless of how ticket sales perform.
What Happens Next?
Kanye West’s three Wireless Festival appearances are being billed as his first UK shows in 11 years. Whether they actually happen remains to be seen. The growing political opposition, combined with a rapid sponsor exodus, creates conditions that festival organizers will be under enormous pressure to address.
The organizers have not publicly commented on whether Kanye West’s booking is under review. Meanwhile, ticket buyers, remaining sponsors, and venue partners are all watching closely.
Kanye West has not made any live public statements about the UK backlash. Whether he responds — and in what form — could shape the next chapter of this escalating controversy.
Stay informed. Follow the latest developments on Kanye West and the Wireless Festival in London as the story continues to unfold.
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