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In light of sponsor withdrawals from London’s Wireless Festival due to headliner Ye, the event’s organizers remain resolute in their support of the artist, formerly known as Kanye West.
Melvin Benn, the managing director of Festival Republic, issued a statement on Monday affirming the decision to feature Ye.
“In a world increasingly divided, the virtues of forgiveness and offering second chances seem to be disappearing,” he expressed. “I urge everyone to reconsider their immediate reactions of disdain towards the prospect of his performance, as I myself initially did, and instead extend the same forgiveness and hope that I have chosen to give.”
Ye, who officially adopted his new name in 2021, is slated to entertain approximately 150,000 attendees over the festival’s three-day span from July 10 to 12.
In recent years, the rapper has faced significant backlash for making antisemitic statements and expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler. Last year, he released a track titled “Heil Hitler” and promoted a T-shirt emblazoned with a swastika on his website. The 48-year-old issued an apology in January, which appeared as a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal, attributing his remarks to a four-month manic episode caused by his bipolar disorder, which he said resulted in “psychotic, paranoid, and impulsive behavior that wreaked havoc on my life.”
Wireless sponsors Pepsi, Rockstar Energy and Diageo have pulled out of the festival since Ye was announced as the headliner, although lead sponsor Pepsi didn’t offer a reason. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the booking “deeply concerning.”
“Ye’s music is played on commercial radio stations in this country. It is available via live streams and downloads in this country without comment or vitriol from anyone and he has a legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country,” Benn’s statement said.
“We are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions,” the statement continued.
Last week, Ye held two concerts at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, marking his first major U.S. performances in nearly five years. There, fans appeared to separate his personal beliefs and public statements from his music — and were ready to forgive after his January apology letter.
“I don’t really bring into politics or the way someone’s personal opinion are. I’m into the music artistry,” said Yovani Contreras, one fan in attendance. “Like, I just, to me, Ye is always gonna be Ye. Kanye is always gonna be Kanye.”
A representative for Ye didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment Monday.