Sponsors Dump Wireless Festival Over Kanye West Booking.
Two major global brands have pulled out of sponsoring the Wireless Festival after backlash over the decision to book Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) as the event’s only headliner this summer.
Pepsi confirmed on Sunday that it had ended its long-running sponsorship of the London music festival, where it had served as the main sponsor since 2015 under the banner “Pepsi MAX Presents Wireless.” The company said it had decided to withdraw its support for the 2026 edition.
Shortly afterward, drinks giant Diageo — the parent company behind brands like Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan — also announced it would no longer be involved with the event.
The withdrawals came just days after organisers revealed that Ye would headline all three nights of the 2026 festival, scheduled for July 10–12 at Finsbury Park. The booking was promoted as a three-night celebration of the rapper’s biggest hits — an unusual move that left him as the only announced headline act.
However, the announcement quickly sparked political backlash in the UK.
Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, criticised the booking, describing it as troubling given the artiste’s past antisemitic remarks and controversial statements.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, also distanced City Hall from the decision, saying the artiste’s past comments were offensive and did not reflect the values of the city.
Meanwhile, Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, went even further by suggesting that Ye should be denied entry into the UK altogether.
Jewish advocacy groups also condemned the move, warning that giving the rapper a major stage could amplify antisemitic rhetoric.
With Pepsi and Diageo stepping away, attention has now shifted to other companies linked to the festival, including PayPal and Budweiser, which had not yet publicly commented at the time of reporting.
The controversy has also raised questions about whether Ye will even be allowed to enter the United Kingdom to perform. In 2025, Australia revoked his visa following the release of a controversial song titled “Heil Hitler” , citing concerns about promoting extremist views.
The 2026 edition of Wireless is organised by Festival Republic, a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment, which has yet to release a statement on the sponsor withdrawals.
The unfolding drama mirrors the backlash Ye faced in 2022, when several companies — including Adidas — ended business partnerships with him after a series of antisemitic comments.
