Pepsi have withdrawn their sponsorship from Wireless Festival: Kayne West
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said it is “deeply concerning” that Kanye West is set to headline Wireless Festival in London this summer.
West, now known as Ye, has drawn widespread criticism for antisemitic comments he has made in recent years, for which he issued an apology in January.
Sir Keir said, in comments first reported by the Sun on Sunday, that West had been booked “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”.
The festival’s headline sponsor Pepsi has now confirmed that it has “decided to withdraw its sponsorship” of the three-day event.
“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears,” Sir Keir said.
“Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.”
The American rapper, 48, was announced as the headliner for all three days of the rap and R&B festival in north London earlier this week.
The festival is marketed as Pepsi presents Wireless – the brand was the main sponsor.
As of Sunday lunchtime, a description on the festival website still said: “Pepsi MAX are a long-standing partner of Pepsi MAX presents Wireless Festival and look forward to creating more musical moments together.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said on Thursday that the government should ban West from entering the UK, arguing “we need to get tougher on antisemitism” and describing West’s planned appearance as “extremely serious”.
BBC News understands the Home Office has not yet received an application for West to enter the UK.
Last year West was blocked from entering Australia after releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler”, glorifying the Nazi leader.
