*Pepsi has cut ties with London’s Wireless Festival, and the timing leaves little doubt about why. The beverage company confirmed it is pulling its sponsorship after Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — was announced as the headline act for all three nights of the July 10-12 summer event, TMZ reports.
A company representative issued a statement making the decision official. “Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival,” the rep said, declining to explicitly connect the exit to Ye’s involvement.
The booking has triggered significant backlash across the United Kingdom, drawing a response from the country’s top official. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the decision to place Ye on the festival’s lineup as “deeply concerning,” pointing to the rapper’s history of antisemitic behavior, including expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler, releasing a track titled “Heil Hitler,” and selling swastika-emblazoned merchandise.
“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears,” Starmer said, per KTLA 5. “Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.”
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Earlier this year, Ye issued a full-page apology in the Wall Street Journal, attributing his actions to “a four-month long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life,” which he linked to his bipolar disorder.
West explained that during manic episodes, a person’s ability to think clearly becomes compromised and their perception of the world warps. “You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you’re losing your grip entirely,” he stated, noting that being dismissed as “crazy” can leave someone feeling as though they have nothing valuable to offer.
He confronted his use of Nazi symbolism head-on, admitting he sold items with swastikas and participated in other antisemitic acts. West explained that during this “fractured state,” he was drawn to harmful imagery, but insisted, “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
West also extended an apology to the Black community, describing it as central to his identity. “I am so sorry to have let you down. I love us,” he stated, recognizing their unwavering support over the years.
Following the public apology, industry doors began reopening. A recent sold-out date at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles marked his return to major U.S. stages after a lengthy absence.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Cussin’ and Fussin’: Kanye West Halts SoFi Concert to Rant – Also Brings Out North West | WATCH
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