Pepsi has confirmed it will step back as the lead sponsor of London’s Wireless Festival this summer following the announcement that Kanye West will headline the three-day event.

The rapper, who now goes by Ye, has faced significant backlash over antisemitic remarks made in recent years, for which he issued an apology in January.

Earlier, Prime Minister Keir Starmer described West’s scheduled appearance as “deeply concerning.”

In remarks first reported by the Sun on Sunday, Starmer said West had been booked “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.”

"Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears," the prime minister said.

"Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe."

West, 48, was confirmed earlier in the week as the headline act for all three nights of the rap and R&B festival, set to take place in north London in July.

The event has been promoted under the branding “Pepsi presents Wireless,” reflecting the company’s role as the primary sponsor.

Meanwhile, drinks company Diageo has also withdrawn its backing “as it stands.” Two of its major brands, Johnnie Walker whisky and Captain Morgan rum, had been listed as festival partners on the official website.

"We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival," a spokesperson said.

As of Sunday evening, Pepsi, Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan were still listed as partners on the festival’s website. However, a section detailing partnerships appeared to have been removed, instead displaying an error message reading: “There's nothing to see here.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said on Thursday that the government should prevent West from entering the UK, arguing “we need to get tougher on antisemitism” and calling the planned appearance “extremely serious.”

The Home Office has not yet received a visa application from West, according to BBC News.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told LBC: "We are seeing a huge increase in antisemitism all across the world and we need to do everything we can in order to stop the rise in hatred of Jewish people.

"That does mean not platforming people who make antisemitic statements or who put out anything that will incite violence and hatred towards Jews."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage added: "Personally I wouldn't buy a ticket."

West’s controversies extend beyond the UK. Last year, he was denied entry to Australia after releasing a song titled "Heil Hitler," which praised the Nazi ლიდer.

Earlier in the year, he publicly identified himself as a Nazi, reversing a prior apology over antisemitic comments, and sold T-shirts bearing swastikas through his clothing brand.

In November 2025, West met Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto and reportedly apologised for earlier remarks. He later issued a public apology in a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal in January.

"I am not a Nazi or an antisemite," he wrote.

He said bipolar disorder meant when "you're manic, you don't think you're sick" and that he had "lost touch with reality".

"I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state," he added.

West’s account on the social media platform X was suspended multiple times in 2022 over posts that violated its policies.

Those posts included an image combining a swastika with the Star of David and a statement saying he would go “death con 3 On Jewish people.”

That same year, he drew criticism for wearing a “white lives matter” T-shirt during Paris Fashion Week.

His actions led sportswear giant Adidas to end its partnership with him, stating it does “not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech.”

West has not performed in the UK since headlining Glastonbury in 2015.

Three tracks from his latest album Bully, released in March, currently feature in the UK’s top 100 singles chart.

Wireless organisers have described the event, scheduled for 10–12 July, as a “three-night journey through his most iconic records.”

Earlier this week, the Board of Deputies of British Jews told BBC Newsnight that West should be barred from entering the country.

A spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "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 organisers and not one that City Hall is involved in."

Festival organiser Festival Republic and representatives for West have been contacted for comment.