Pepsi has reportedly withdrawn its sponsorship of the Wireless Festival in London amid the booking of controversial rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye.
The Runaway artist, who has been at the center of criticism in recent years for several anti-Semitic statements and the release of a song called “Heil Hitler,” is set to headline all three nights of the UK festival this summer, which runs from July 10-12.
“Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of the Wireless Festival,” a spokesperson for PepsiCo, which has been a long-term partner and major sponsor of the Wireless Festival for several years, wrote in a statement. BBC I mentioned. The beverage company did not share details about why it was withdrawing its sponsorship, but the decision came after West was booked.
However, as of Sunday morning, Pepsi was still listed as a major sponsor on the festival’s website.
Hollywood Reporter I have reached out to PepsiCo for comment.
The UK festival has already faced criticism over West’s planned performances, including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He said The sun The newspaper said: “It is deeply disturbing that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his past anti-Semitic statements and celebration of Nazism.
Starmer added: “Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure that Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.”
West was performing a limited number of shows on his 2026 Ye world tour in support of his new album Bully. His last concert was at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 3, which sparked backlash but also support from thousands of fans.
The “Heartless” artist has been widely condemned for his anti-Semitic rhetoric in recent years. In addition to his song “Heil Hitler,” he also used a Super Bowl ad in 2025 to direct viewers to his Yeezy website that featured T-shirts emblazoned with swastikas. West has since apologized for his anti-Semitic remarks in an ad on Wall Street Journal earlier this year, but he did not address the controversy further.
