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A number of bands have decided to withdraw from a music festival just hours before their scheduled performances following allegations from Irish folk band The Mary Wallopers that they were allegedly “cut off” for displaying a Palestinian flag. The Last Dinner Party, Cliffords, and The Academic all announced on Saturday that they were backing out from the Victorious festival in Portsmouth.
Initially, event organizers claimed that they cut off The Mary Wallopers’ set on Friday due to the use of a “discriminatory” chant. However, they have now issued an apology to the band and have promised to make a substantial donation to humanitarian relief efforts for the Palestinian people. In response to the controversy, rock band The Last Dinner Party expressed their outrage in a statement shared on social media, accusing the organizers of political censorship and declaring their support for Palestinians.
Following the incident involving The Mary Wallopers, a spokesperson for Victorious stated that while there is a policy against displaying flags of any kind at the event, they respect the right of artists to express their views during their performances. The Mary Wallopers, on the other hand, claim that a crew member interfered with their show by removing the flag from the stage before the sound was cut off.
The Academic also decided to drop out of the festival, stating that they could not perform at an event that silences free speech. Similarly, Irish band Cliffords refused to play, stating that they would not be censored for showing support to the people of Palestine. Despite the withdrawals, the organizers issued another statement on social media, apologizing for the handling of the situation and pledging their support for the right of artists to express their views. The festival’s closing day is scheduled to be headlined by Kings of Leon, with other acts like Bloc Party, Gabrielle, and The Reytons also on the lineup
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