"Last Sunday, major sponsors of the three-day festival, including Pepsi and Diageo, began to withdraw their involvement in the face of a significant backlash to Ye's shocking pronouncements on the Jewish community and the Holocaust."
"As soon as you've lost your major sponsors, you're not going to be able to get any replacements back in that timeframe, said a senior partner at a major entertainment law firm."
"Festival Republic's head, Melvin Benn, initially defended the booking, saying Ye, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, had been suffering a manic episode when the comments were made."
Wireless Festival's decision to book Ye as the 2026 headliner led to significant backlash, resulting in major sponsors like Pepsi and Diageo withdrawing support. UK Jewish groups threatened protests, prompting the UK government to intervene and deny Ye entry. The festival, scheduled for July 10-12 in Finsbury Park, was ultimately canceled. Industry figures expressed shock at Festival Republic's choice to book such a controversial figure, especially given Ye's history of antisemitic comments and previous apologies for his behavior.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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