The backlash surrounding Kanye West headlining this year’s Wireless Festival in London could turn out to be more of a problem than organisers anticipated.
A festival insider has told Metro it’s ‘looking unlikely’ the Bully rapper, who now goes by Ye, will actually take to the stage as sponsors abandon Wireless.
The biggest blow to the festival was Pepsi’s decision as headline partner to drop out over Ye’s antisemitic behaviour, for which he has previously apologised.
Diageo, which owns sponsors Captain Morgan rum and Johnnie Walker whisky, has announced they will not be partnering with the festival.
‘We have informed the organisers of our concerns, and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival,’ the brand said in a statement.
Metro understands that, while PayPal are not an official main sponsor, they will also no longer have their branding associated with the event.
Some sponsors, including Budweiser, are yet to make a statement, but our source says Wireless could find itself struggling.
‘Without major sponsors a festival like Wireless wouldn’t be able to function,’ they said. ‘People are still going to buy tickets, but they need the sponsors to back them.
‘Especially with the government now involved, Kanye taking to the stage is looking unlikely as they are who are ultimately in charge of his entry to the UK and visa.’
The Tories, led by MP Chris Philp, have written a letter to the government urging them to ban Ye from entering the UK.
The letter highlights Ye’s ‘repeated antisemitic remarks’ and urges the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to step in under the Immigration Act 1971.
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For the past several years, Ye has been spouting homophobic and anti-Semitic views, dressed up as the KKK, and written a song dedicated to Hitler.
The Shadow Home Secretary said: ‘Kanye West is guilty of appalling antisemitic and pro-Nazi comments. I have written to the Home Secretary asking her to use her powers to ban West from travelling to the UK to appear at the Wireless concert.
‘She used this power recently to ban an anti-immigration campaigner. She says she wants to fight antisemitism. Now will now find out how serious she really is.’
Previously, Sir Keir Starmer said it was ‘deeply concerning’ that Wireless had selected Ye to perform ‘despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism’.
The PM continued to The Sun on Sunday: ‘Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.’
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, previously told Metro that Ye’s past comments and actions are ‘offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values.’
While the backlash has been growing, some celebs supported his comeback shows, and plenty of fans have taken to social media to defend Ye’s right to perform.
Many point out that he has apologised for his actions, in a letter in which he said he is ‘not a Nazi or an antisemite’ and that he ‘loves Jewish people’.
Ye claimed he feels ‘deeply mortified’ by his past behaviour, with footage circulating of him hugging and apologising to a rabbi.
However, Wireless may not have even been Ye’s first choice as Metro understands that The London Stadium was approached to host a concert this summer.
That gig was blocked by the mayor’s office over community concerns and reputational risk to London.
The Mayor’s Office added that choosing him as a headliner was ‘a decision taken by the festival organisers and not one that City Hall is involved in.’
So far Wireless has only announced Ye for the summer festival, with other artists still to come so there is plenty of time to alter the lineup if they need.
As our source said: ‘They will, as most festivals do, have a backup artist who can step in if it’s decided they’ll pull him before July.’
Fans will have to wait and see if Ye actually takes to a UK stage for the first time in 10 years, or if he really is cancelled.
Metro has reached out to Wireless and the other festival sponsors for comment.
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