After Britain’s prime minister criticized the invitation of Kanye West to the Wireless music festival, and Pepsi, the event’s official sponsor, announced it was withdrawing along with other backers, actor David Schwimmer has joined the criticism, urging organizers to deny the rapper a platform until he takes meaningful steps to repair the harm caused by his antisemitic statements and actions.
West responded to calls to boycott him from the festival, saying he would be willing to meet with the Jewish community in Britain.
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Schwimmer, a Jewish star of “Friends” who frequently speaks out on antisemitism, posted on social media Monday thanking several of the festival’s sponsors that pulled out after it was announced West would headline the three-day event, set for June. He also called on remaining sponsors to follow suit, arguing the rapper has yet to offer a sincere and convincing apology for his antisemitic remarks.
He praised companies such as Pepsi, PayPal and Diageo for what he described as moral clarity in withdrawing their support, contrasting their decision with that of the festival’s organizers, who continue to give a platform to an artist he characterized as one of the most prominent purveyors of racist and hateful rhetoric.
Schwimmer said West has spent years using his fame to promote hatred and violence against Jews, spreading antisemitic stereotypes and falsehoods to tens of millions of followers — a number he noted exceeds the global Jewish population.
He pointed to a series of incidents, including a song referencing Adolf Hitler, the sale of swastika-branded merchandise, self-identification as a Nazi and past threats against Jews, all of which, he said, have not prevented West from being embraced by major events such as the London festival and recent large-scale shows in Los Angeles tied to his new album, “Bully.”
He also expressed skepticism about a written apology attributed to West in The Wall Street Journal, suggesting it amounted to a public relations effort rather than genuine accountability, particularly as similar expressions of remorse have not been made in live interviews or public appearances. Schwimmer argued that words alone are insufficient to undo years of harmful conduct, and said the Jewish community has little reason to view the apology as authentic.
He added that while he believes in forgiveness, it must be accompanied by concrete action. Until West demonstrates a real commitment to rebuilding trust — not only with the Jewish community but also with fans alienated by his rhetoric — Schwimmer said he should not be given a platform, warning that doing so would amount to tacit endorsement of behavior that is widely understood to be wrong and unethical. He expressed hope that additional sponsors, including Budweiser, BeatBox Beverages, Drip Water and Liquid Death (Big Green Coach), would also reconsider their involvement.
Meanwhile, Wireless organizers have stood by their decision to proceed with West’s performances despite public pressure, sponsor withdrawals and criticism from political figures, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In an interview with The Sun, Starmer said it was deeply troubling that West had been booked for the festival given his past antisemitic remarks and expressions of support for Nazism, adding that antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted wherever it appears, and that there is a shared responsibility to ensure Britain remains a place where Jewish people feel safe.
Melvin Benn, a senior executive at Festival Republic, the British promoter behind Wireless, defended West in a statement to Variety, citing his own experiences with individuals facing mental health challenges. Benn said he has witnessed many instances of troubling behavior he chose to forgive and move past, and that those experiences shaped his belief in forgiveness and hope across both his personal life and professional work.