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In March, Ye, formerly known as rap star Kanye West, was revealed as the headliner for this year’s Wireless Festival. In London, United Kingdom. And the responses to the decision have proven to be costly.
More Companies Nix Wireless Festival Because of Kanye
In light of the decision, several of the companies that partnered with the festival have pulled their sponsorships. The latest to do so are PayPal and Diageo.
Diageo is a London-based global leader in premium drinks, such as Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Don Julio, and Smirnoff. In a statement to The Independent, they said that they had “informed the organizers of our concerns,” and would no longer be sponsoring the event.
Paypal has also withdrawn its involvement as the official payment partner for early access tickets to the July event (Via WBLS).
With a population of roughly 160,000, Jewish people make up a significant portion of the population in London. So the decision to make Ye the headliner for the festival was controversial when you consider his past antisemitic comments.
In 2025, Kanye West found himself at the epicenter of controversy for several reasons. He released a track called “Heil Hitler” and even featured a photo of a Klux Klux Klan member on the cover art.
After Ye was announced as the Wireless festival headliner, U.K. Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, called the decision “deeply concerning,” considering his past remarks.
“It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism,” he said in a statement (via SkyNews).
“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.”
As it stands, West remains the headliner for all three nights of Wireless Festival.
