LONDON (AP) — Pressure is escalating on the American rapper Kanye West to withdraw from his headline performance at this summer's Wireless Festival in London. This follows public criticism from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who expressed concerns regarding West’s past antisemitic remarks and behaviors.

The controversy surrounding West has led Pepsi to retract its lead sponsorship of the Wireless Festival, which is set to take place from July 10-12 at Finsbury Park in north London. Following Pepsi’s lead, other sponsors, including Budweiser and PayPal, are now being urged to reconsider their involvement in the event. While Pepsi did not elaborate on its reasoning for the withdrawal, the branding was previously promoted as “Pepsi presents Wireless.”

Kanye West, also known as Ye since his name change in 2021, is expected to perform in front of an audience of around 150,000 over the festival's three nights. Over recent years, he has stirred significant controversy due to a series of antisemitic comments and public displays of admiration for Adolf Hitler. Notably, in his music career, he released a song titled “Heil Hitler” and previously offered a T-shirt featuring a swastika for sale on his website.

In January, West issued an apology for his remarks in a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal, attributing his behavior to a manic episode linked to his bipolar disorder. Despite this apology, the backlash against his performance at the Wireless Festival continues to grow, especially in light of recent incidents of antisemitism in the U.K.

During a recent sold-out concert at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles — West's first major U.S. performance in nearly five years — many of his fans appeared to dissociate his controversial views from his music, seemingly willing to forgive him following his January apology. However, Prime Minister Starmer stated that it was “deeply concerning” that West was scheduled to perform at a festival with such a long-standing reputation.

Starmer asserted, “Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.” This statement comes at a time when there are rising concerns about antisemitism in the U.K., highlighted by recent criminal incidents, including the arson of ambulances run by a Jewish community service in northwest London, and a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue last October.

Phil Rosenberg, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, expressed strong disapproval of West’s scheduled performance, stating that allowing him to play is “absolutely the wrong decision.” As the debate intensifies, the Wireless Festival has yet to make an official comment regarding West's upcoming appearance.

As discussions unfold, public sentiment remains divided, with some fans separating the artist and his music from his controversial beliefs, while others demand accountability and a clear stand against antisemitism in all its forms.