Kanye West's Wireless Festival Headline Slot Sparks Sponsor Exodus: PayPal and Rockstar Energy Join Boycott
PayPal and Rockstar Energy have joined Pepsi and Diageo in withdrawing support from Wireless Festival due to Kanye West's controversial headline slot, amid widespread criticism over his past antisemitic remarks.
Additionally, Sky News reports that Rockstar Energy has withdrawn funding for the festival. This follows earlier announcements from Pepsi and Diageo (the company behind Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan) that they would be ending their sponsorships.
A spokesperson for Diageo stated, as per ITV News, "We have informed the organisers of our concerns, and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival."
The controversy stems from Ye's scheduled performances across all three nights of the festival. The decision to book him has drawn criticism from various figures, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who voiced his “deep concern” over West's past anti-Semitic remarks and apparent celebration of Nazism.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also spoken out against the booking, along with organizations such as the Jewish Leadership Council and the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism.
Sajid David, chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, has urged Wireless to cancel West’s performances, suggesting that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood should prevent the rapper from entering the UK if the festival proceeds with his shows.
Other political figures, including Tory MP Chris Philp, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, and Labour MP Rachael Maskell, have echoed calls for West to be banned from the UK.
NME has reached out to Wireless Festival for comment.
Ye's history of anti-Semitic comments dates back to 2022, leading to suspensions from Instagram and Twitter, as well as the termination of partnerships with his lawyer, talent agency, record label, and fashion brands like Balenciaga and Adidas.
While West initially refused to apologize, even suggesting that Jewish people should "forgive Hitler," he later issued an apology to the Jewish community in 2023 and attributed his behavior to alcohol.
Despite the apology, numerous lawsuits alleging extensive anti-Semitic behavior have been filed against the rapper. Allegations include claims that West stated Jewish people were “working together to hold him back” and that he praised Hitler in the workplace, allegedly resulting in a settlement with a former employee.
In early 2025, West retracted his apology and declared himself “a Nazi” before later claiming he had realized he wasn't a Nazi after all. This was followed by the appearance of more swastika-themed apparel on his social media.
More recently, West has attempted to make amends by meeting with a rabbi and publishing a full-page apology in The Wall Street Journal.
During a recent performance at the SoFi Stadium, West told the crowd, “Tonight we’re going to put all this behind us, ain’t that right LA?”
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