Pepsi and Diageo Withdraw Wireless Festival Sponsorship Over Kanye West
Major corporate sponsors have withdrawn their support from London's Wireless Festival following widespread criticism of its decision to have Kanye West headline the event. Pepsi, the festival's lead sponsor, announced it was pulling its sponsorship, with Diageo—owner of liquor brands Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan—quickly following suit. Both companies confirmed they would not be sponsoring the 2026 festival as currently planned. The backlash gained significant momentum after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the booking, citing West's 'previous celebration of Nazism' and history of making antisemitic remarks. London Mayor Sadiq Khan and various Jewish leaders also joined in criticizing the festival organizers' decision to feature the controversial artist. Further complicating the situation, reports indicate that Kanye West has not yet applied for permission to enter the UK for the July event. British authorities retain the power to block his entry if his presence is deemed 'not conducive to the public good.' The festival organizers now face mounting pressure to rescind West's headline booking entirely as the event scheduled for July 10-12 at Finsbury Park approaches.
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Diageo and Pepsi drop Wireless sponsorship amid criticism of Kanye West booking | Kanye West | The Guardian
Pepsi and Diageo have said they will withdraw their sponsorship of a UK music festival that is due to be headlined by Kanye West after Keir Starmer joined criticism of the event. The musician is understood to have not yet made an application to come to Britain and could be blocked under powers allowing the authorities to do so if his presence is deemed not conducive to the public good. The prime minister joined others who have criticised Wireless ...
Pepsi and Diageo withdraw sponsorship of Wireless Festival after Kanye West booking | Ents & Arts News | Sky News
A Pepsi spokesperson said: "Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival." Diageo, owner of Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan, said on Sunday evening it had also withdrawn. A spokesperson said: "We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival." Sky News ...
Yet organizers announced last week ... the Wireless Festival in North London for the entirety of its three-night run in July, invoking outrage from politicians and withdrawals from festival sponsors. Those include Diageo, the company that owns popular liquor brands such as Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan. ... In a statement emailed to NPR, Diageo confirmed that it will no longer sponsor the 2026 festival "as it stands." Pepsi, another company ...
Pepsi withdraws sponsorship of London’s Wireless Festival amid Kanye West backlash | The Independent
Pepsi has withdrawn its sponsorship of London’s Wireless Festival following criticism from Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Sadiq Khan and Jewish leaders over the decision to have the disgraced rapper Kanye West headline this year’s event.
Pressure grows to remove Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, as the headliner of London summer music festival | PBS News
Pepsi didn't provide an explicit ... to pull out of the event, even though publicity for the festival promoted the event under the branding "Pepsi presents Wireless." "Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival," the company said in a statement Sunday. READ MORE: After weeks of outcry, Adidas ends lucrative partnership with Kanye West over antisemitic ...
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