Plus: Jamie Dimon releases his annual shareholder letter; OpenAI buys popular online talk show.
Rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) has drawn widespread condemnation for his comments on Hitler, slavery and a variety of other offensive topics. But right now, he’s trying to make a musical comeback, securing the marquee spot in the British Wireless Festival.
His addition has led to the exit of Pepsi, which had been the presenting sponsor, as well as Diageo, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Both issued basic statements that did not directly address Ye.
“Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival,” Pepsi said simply.
Diageo, which owns Guinness, Smirnoff, and other alcohol brands, gave slightly more detail, indicating it may be willing to return if there were changes to the lineup, saying, “We have informed the organisers of our concerns, and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival.”
Ye had attempted to apologize for his past antisemitic and otherwise offensive remarks, blaming it on his bipolar disorder. Earlier this year, he ran an advertisement in the Journal, saying he was “not a Nazi” and apologizing to the Black community.
Why it matters: Ye wants to resuscitate his brand. Pepsi and Diageo want to protect theirs.
Ye’s comments were not a matter of a one-time slip that led to “cancellation.” He made a series of deeply troubling comments over a sustained period of time. His remarks already cost Adidas billions of dollars when they dropped him over his remarks. It’s clear that many view the rapper, who made a track titled “Heil Hitler,” as too hot to handle.
Ye may one day prove genuine contrition and make a comeback. But few brands want to line up to help pay his appearance fee until that’s actually happened. At the moment, Ye is too unpredictable and too untested for any major brand to feel comfortable supporting.
Pepsi’s actions and statement portray a deep sense of caution, declining to discuss the decision in even an opaque way. On the whole, Diageo’s is stronger. While they do not name Ye or condemn him outright, they make it clear they had “concerns” and that their complaint is with the lineup “as it stands.”
The decision to withdraw from the festival, regardless of their statements, is likely enough to head off a PR disaster. Prevention is always better than a cure in PR.
Editor’s Top Reads:
- JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has released his much-anticipated annual letter to shareholders. The lengthy, chart-dense letter is emulated by other CEOs and helps set an economic agenda for the entire financial sector and beyond. Dimon frames his letter around America’s 250th anniversary (and JPMorgan Chase’s 227th anniversary). “This is the perfect time to rededicate ourselves to the values that made this great nation of ours — freedom, liberty and opportunity — and to recognize that we all stand on our country’s shoulders,” he wrote. Of course, he also notes the challenges of this moment, including global wars and ongoing tension with China, even while expressing continued optimism in America’s role in the world. Specifically, he cited geopolitical uncertainty as the greatest risk to his organization. “The outcome of current geopolitical events may very well be the defining factor in how the future global economic order unfolds. Then again, it may not.” Dimon’s letter succeeds every time for its combination of folksy optimism and in-depth examination of the current economic playing field. It’s one of the reasons Dimon is among the most respected CEOs in the world. These same principles can be adapted and tweaked for your own CEO in their annual letter to whatever stakeholders matter most to you. Read the letter, see how Dimon’s voice is incorporated and see what you can learn.
- OpenAI purchased TBPN, a popular online tech talk show. And they’re very explicit about why they did. “We want to let these guys cook,” said OpenAI chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane, “and the idea is to really scale what they can do and how they do it, so that they are able to really continue to deliver those ideas but to bigger and bigger audiences, particularly as it becomes more and more important to explain the how and the why behind AI.” He also tied their acquisition to the long history of tech companies acquiring media outlets, emphasizing that this is not unusual. Lehane also indicated that this purchase will allow OpenAI to create its own channels — so look for more company-owned media coming soon. TBPN retained editorial independence, according to the purchase agreement, but some are skeptical of what that really means in practice. Regardless, it’s clear that OpenAI sees the power of the media, but wants a little more control. We’ll see if this becomes a trend.
- Polymarket pulled a betting market wager over whether American airmen who ejected from a fighter jet over Iran would be rescued. Both have since been brought to safety. The ability to wager on a life-and-death matter brought swift condemnation. “They could be your neighbor, a friend, a family member. And people are betting on whether or not they’ll be saved. This is DISGUSTING,” wrote Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton on X. A Polymarket spokesperson said the market had been removed and did not meet the site’s standards. The company also said they are reviewing how the market bypassed its safeguards. Polymarket has already drawn scrutiny for accusations of insider trading, including related to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the start of the Iran war. Betting on a life-or-death situation will strike most people of conscience as a pretty gross thing to do. It’s unlikely to win them many supporters as they seek to expand their base and win friends in Congress. Polymarket’s statement is unlikely to be strong enough to quash those concerns. A stronger condemnation may have helped them meet their aims in the long run.
Allison Carter is editorial director of PR Daily and Ragan.com. Follow her on LinkedIn.
The post The Scoop: Pepsi drops sponsorship of UK music fest after Ye added as headliner appeared first on PR Daily.
