Irish Band Removed from UK Festival Over Pro-Palestine Chant

At the Victorious Festival in Portsmouth, the Irish folk band The Mary Wallopers were abruptly cut off and removed from the stage after unfurling a Palestinian flag and leading chants of 'Free Palestine' during their performance. Festival organizers stated the band's chant was considered discriminatory and cited a policy banning flags of any kind, resulting in the microphones being cut and the performance ending after only 20 minutes. The band and their fans condemned the action as censorship, emphasizing that The Mary Wallopers have openly supported Palestine for years without prior incident. The incident sparked widespread backlash on social media, with fans and fellow artists, including Northern Irish rap group Kneecap, voicing strong support for the band and criticizing the festival's decision. Festival organizers maintained they acted to preserve a non-discriminatory environment, while the band highlighted ongoing artistic solidarity with Palestine, having also headlined a Gaza aid concert in the past. The controversy has ignited debate over freedom of expression and the limits placed on political statements in live music settings.