Pepsi has officially pulled its sponsorship from this summer’s Wireless Festival in London after Kanye West was announced as the headliner for all three nights. The move comes amid fierce backlash over West’s past antisemitic remarks and pro-Nazi comments.
Political Heavyweights and Jewish Groups Condemn Kanye’s Booking
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and the Jewish Leadership Council have all slammed the decision to put West front and centre at Wireless. They criticised the booking due to his controversial track record of hateful statements.
“We condemn the decision to headline Kanye West, given his history of antisemitic and pro-Nazi messaging,” said a spokesperson for the Jewish Leadership Council.
Pepsi’s Sudden U-Turn
A Pepsi spokesperson confirmed the withdrawal on Sunday, saying simply: “Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival.” Pepsi Max has been the festival’s headline partner since 2015, with branding visible everywhere on site. The loss leaves organisers scrambling. Other major partners like PayPal, Rockstar Energy Drink, and Budweiser are now under pressure to reconsider their support, with more pulls possible before the event.
Kanye’s History and Wireless Future Uncertain
To his credit, Kanye has apologised for his offensive remarks, blaming a manic four-month episode. He even removed the track ‘Heil Hitler’ from streaming sites. Yet, many remain unforgiving. Interestingly, PepsiCo bought SodaStream, an Israeli company, back in 2018 for $3.2 billion. That could have influenced their decision. Fans argue there’s no bigger Wireless headliner this year than Ye, known for his star power and hit-heavy sets – love him or loathe him. But with sponsors backing away, the festival’s plans now hang in the balance.
Wireless Festival 2026 Details
- Date: July 10 – 12, 2026
- Location: Finsbury Park, London
