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Government and sponsors react to Kanye West's festival appearance
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called the decision to book Kanye West as the headliner for London's Wireless Festival "deeply concerning," citing the rapper's history of antisemitic remarks. Pepsi, the festival's main sponsor, announced it would withdraw its support shortly after the backlash intensified.
Political leaders weigh in on controversy
Starmer, speaking to The Sun on Sunday, emphasized that West's booking occurred "despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism." He added, "Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged the government to bar West from entering the UK, calling the situation "extremely serious" and stressing the need for stronger action against antisemitism. The Home Office confirmed it had not yet received an application for West's entry.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch echoed concerns, stating, "We are seeing a huge increase in antisemitism all across the world," and warned against "platforming people who make antisemitic statements." Reform UK's Nigel Farage simply stated, "Personally, I wouldn't buy a ticket."
West's history of controversial statements
The 48-year-old rapper, who now goes by Ye, has faced repeated criticism for antisemitic comments and actions. In 2022, he was banned from Twitter (now X) multiple times for posts violating the platform's rules, including an image combining a swastika and the Star of David with the caption, "I will go death con 3 On Jewish people."
West also declared himself a Nazi in 2025, later retracting an earlier apology for antisemitic remarks. He sold T-shirts featuring a swastika on his clothing website and wore a "White Lives Matter" shirt during Paris Fashion Week, leading Adidas to end its partnership with him.
Last year, Australia barred West from entering the country after he released a song titled "Heil Hitler." In November 2025, he met with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto to apologize for his past comments and later took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal expressing regret for his actions, attributing them to bipolar disorder.
Festival details and reactions
Wireless Festival, scheduled for 10-12 July in north London, announced West as its headliner for all three nights. The event was initially marketed as "Pepsi presents Wireless," but the beverage giant announced its withdrawal following the controversy.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the UK's largest Jewish representative body, called for West to be blocked from entering the country. A spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan stated, "The past comments and actions of this artist are offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London's values."
Festival organizers Festival Republic and West's representatives have not yet commented.
Public and industry response
Despite the backlash, three tracks from West's latest album, Bully, released in March, remain in the UK's top 100 singles chart. Wireless Festival described the event as a "three-night journey through his most iconic records."
West last performed in the UK in 2015, when he headlined Glastonbury Festival.
