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Pepsi just made a massive statement about its stance on Kanye West. While Ye has been selling out tour dates and has been added to music festival lineups, he isn’t welcome anywhere where Pepsi is serving as a sponsor. The beverage company just pulled its sponsorship of a London music festival after learning that Kanye West would be headlining. Here is everything we know. Other companies are following its lead.

Pepsi pulls its sponsorship from Wireless Festival

Kanye West is looking for forgiveness for his online tirades that resulted in several antisemitic comments and a plethora of offensive Tweets. His fans seem to have decided to let it go, but Pepsi is not. The beverage purveyor was the sponsor of an upcoming music festival in London, but has now pulled out.

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Pepsi has reportedly pulled thier sponsorship of Wireless Festival after organizers agreed to book Kanye West as the show’s headliner for all three days of the event. The company was the festival’s main sponsor. The 20-year-old festival, held at Finsbury Park in London, had a longstanding working relationship with PepsiCo. The company previously sponsored the festival for several years. While organizers are still planning th July event, things are getting pretty tense.  

Diageo has stepped back from the festival, and UK politicians are discussing it, too

News that Pepsi had pulled its sponsorship of the Wireless Festival has everyone talking. It has also spurred other companies into action. Diageo, another sponsor, has opted to follow in Pepsi’s footsteps. Diageo, a London-based company that owns dozens of alcoholic brands, issued a statement following its decision. A spokesperson told Music Business Worldwide, “We have informed the organizers of our concerns, and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival.”

It is possible that additional sponsors will follow suit. In the meantime, the decision has sparked plenty of discussion among London-based politicians, including the city’s mayor. Several have called the decision “irresponsible” and have noted that West’s previous comments are not in line with the spirit of London or the Wireless Festival they are familiar with.

Kanye West has not yet commented on the backlash. The organizers of the Wireless Festival have not yet issued a statement, either.

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