Wireless Festival Loses More Sponsorships Over Kanye West Booking

The fallout from Wireless Festival booking Kanye West continues.

The English festival recently announced the controversial US hip-hop star as a headliner for its 2026 edition, but backlash soon followed.

After Pepsi backed out of sponsoring the London-based festival, two more partners, Diageo and Rockstar Energy, have now also dropped out.

“We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival,” the company behind Guinness and more shared in a statement to The Independent.

The Wireless festival interestingly still calls it “Pepsi MAX Presents Wireless,” but all previously-named sponsors and partners have been removed from the site, including PayPal, Budweiser, and more.

Kanye himself hasn't addressed the furore, but several English politicians have discussed it publicly.

“It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears,” he continued. “Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Rolling Stone, “We are clear that the past comments and actions of this artist are offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values. This was a decision taken by the festival organizers and not one that City Hall is involved in.”

Kanye, now known as Ye, has been on the comeback trail this year.

He released new album Bully, followed by major concerts featuring guest appearances from Lauryn Hill, North West, CeeLo Green, André Troutman, Zion Marley, and YG Marley.

Kanye had been laying low since publishing an open letter in The Wall Street Journal apologising for his antisemitism over the past few years and past controversial statements.