Monday, April 6, 2026 - Pepsi has withdrawn its sponsorship of Wireless Festival following backlash over Kanye West being announced as the headline act.
The decision comes amid growing criticism of the rapper’s inclusion in the
festival lineup, with concerns raised over his past controversial statements
and actions.
A spokesperson confirmed the move, stating: “Pepsi has decided to withdraw
its sponsorship of Wireless Festival.” The withdrawal is significant, as the
company has been a major partner of the festival since 2015, with the 2026
edition previously branded as “Pepsi presents Wireless.”
Kanye West, also known as Ye, is scheduled to headline all three nights of
the event at Finsbury Park in July. However, his booking has drawn widespread
criticism due to previous antisemitic, racist, and inflammatory remarks. UK
political leaders have also weighed in. Keir Starmer described the decision to
book the artist as “deeply concerning,” while Sadiq Khan criticised it as
“deeply irresponsible.”
Public figures have also challenged brands associated with the festival.
Comedian Matt Lucas questioned Pepsi’s involvement on social media, referencing
the rapper’s past behaviour and controversial content. Calls have since grown
for the performance to be cancelled altogether, with some arguing that allowing
him to headline sends the wrong message.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said the artist’s past comments are
“offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values,” while
noting that the booking decision was made by festival organizers, not City
Hall. Despite the backlash, festival organizers have not publicly responded,
and the performance remains scheduled.
Kanye West previously issued an apology earlier this year, stating he had
“lost touch with reality” and expressing remorse for his past comments.
However, critics argue that the apology does not address the extent of the
controversy.
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