Diageo backs out of Wireless Festival after rapper Kanye West booking

Diageo has withdrawn its sponsorship from Wireless Festival, becoming the latest major brand to exit following the announcement of Kanye West as the headline act.

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Although Diageo did not explicitly state its reason for pulling out, the timing has raised questions, as it follows a similar decision by Pepsi, which recently confirmed it had also withdrawn sponsorship after backlash over the rapper’s booking.

The controversy surrounding the festival has grown significantly in recent days, with critics pointing to Kanye West’s past antisemitic remarks and other public controversies. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also commented on the situation, describing the decision to include the artist in the lineup as “deeply concerning.”

Despite the mounting pressure and sponsor withdrawals, there has been no indication that the rapper’s scheduled performances will be cancelled.

The developments have placed organisers under increasing scrutiny, as they face growing calls to reconsider the lineup while managing reputational and commercial fallout.