ALBAWABA - American beverage company Pepsi has withdrawn its sponsorship from the UK's upcoming Wireless Festival following backlash after news circulated that controversial rapper Kanye West is headlining at the festival.
According to several UK reports, this comes following Kanye West's recent anti-Semitic behavior and Nazi-related remarks on social media. The renowned American rapper, who recently released his studio album "Bully," also stirred controversy for releasing a song called "Heil Hitler."
Pepsi withdraws Wireless Festival sponsorship over Kanye West headline
According to the Mirror, criticism started when UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said regarding the issue at hand, "Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears."
A Pepsi spokesperson also said, "Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival."
The festival was previously called "Pepsi MAX presents Wireless" since 2015. However, the name has been scrapped after news circulated that Kanye or Ye will be headlining it this year, marking his return after an 11-year hiatus.
Ye recently performed in California's SoFi Stadium. The rapper said during the viral performance, "That's what 80,000 people sound like, ladies and gentlemen... they said I'd never be back in the states. Two sold-out concerts."
The American rapper was captured performing his song "Heartless" while standing on a unique spherical stage featuring smoke effects.
