Wireless Festival Faces Sponsor Exodus Over Ye Booking

U.K. Prime Minister condemns festival's decision to feature rapper with history of antisemitic remarks

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:21pm

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The Wireless Festival in London is facing a major backlash and sponsor withdrawals after booking rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, to headline the three-day event. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and advocacy groups have strongly criticized the festival's decision, citing Ye's history of antisemitic statements and Nazi sympathies. Sponsors Pepsi and Diageo have already pulled their support, and other major brands are under pressure to follow suit.

Why it matters

The controversy highlights the ongoing debate around whether artists with a history of hate speech and extremism should be given high-profile platforms. The Wireless Festival's decision to book Ye has sparked a wider conversation about the responsibility of event organizers, sponsors, and the entertainment industry to address and condemn antisemitism.

The details

The Wireless Festival is scheduled for July 10-12, 2026 in London's Finsbury Park. Organizers had booked Ye to headline all three nights of the event, which was expected to draw around 150,000 attendees. However, the announcement of Ye's booking was met with immediate criticism from the British government and advocacy groups. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the decision as 'deeply concerning' given Ye's history of antisemitic remarks, including claiming he loves Adolf Hitler and plans to go 'death con 3' on Jewish people. The Campaign Against Antisemitism called on the Prime Minister to prevent Ye from entering the U.K. for the festival.

  • The Wireless Festival is scheduled for July 10-12, 2026 in London.
  • Ye's booking as the festival's headliner was announced in early April 2026.
  • Pepsi and Diageo withdrew their sponsorship of the festival on April 5, 2026.

The players

Wireless Festival

An annual music festival held in London's Finsbury Park, featuring a lineup of popular music acts.

Ye

The rapper formerly known as Kanye West, who has faced widespread criticism for a series of antisemitic statements and actions.

Keir Starmer

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who expressed significant concern over the Wireless Festival's decision to book Ye as a headliner.

Campaign Against Antisemitism

A U.K.-based advocacy group that condemned the Wireless Festival's booking of Ye and called on the Prime Minister to prevent him from entering the country.

Pepsi

A major sponsor of the Wireless Festival that withdrew its support following the announcement of Ye's booking.

Diageo

The parent company of Captain Morgan and Johnnie Walker, which also withdrew its sponsorship of the 2026 Wireless Festival.

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What they’re saying

“We have informed the organisers of our concerns, and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival.”

— Diageo

What’s next

The festival organizers are facing mounting pressure to remove Ye from the lineup, and it remains uncertain whether the musician will be granted entry to the U.K. given his history of controversial statements. Sponsors and performers are continuing to evaluate their involvement with the event.

The takeaway

The Wireless Festival controversy highlights the ongoing challenges event organizers face in balancing artistic expression with social responsibility, especially when booking performers with a history of hate speech. This incident underscores the need for the entertainment industry to take a firm stance against antisemitism and other forms of bigotry.