Wireless Festival Faces Sponsor Exodus After Booking Controversial Rapper Ye

Major sponsors have withdrawn from the Wireless Festival in North London following the announcement that Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, will headline all three nights in July 2026. Diageo, owner of Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan, confirmed it will no longer sponsor the event "as it stands," while Pepsi also pulled its lead sponsorship role. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the booking, telling The Sun on Sunday that antisemitism "must be confronted firmly wherever it appears." The festival, held at Finsbury Park, is a major U.K. rap and hip-hop event drawing tens of thousands annually. Ye's controversial history includes antisemitic comments, a 2025 song titled "Heil Hitler," and selling swastika T-shirts on his clothing site. Earlier this year, the artist placed a full-page apology in The Wall Street Journal for his antisemitic behavior, which he has attributed to bipolar disorder manic episodes. Ye has not publicly commented on the festival controversy but is attempting to revive his career, recently selling out two Los Angeles shows after his new album "Bully" debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 charts.