As reported by The Mail Sunday, British pop sensation Dua Lipa dismissed her agent after he endorsed a letter urging the removal of pro-Palestinian Irish rap group Kneecap from the Glastonbury lineup.
Dua Lipa, the acclaimed British pop artist, has reportedly severed ties with her agent following his endorsement of a letter that demanded the exclusion of the Irish rap collective Kneecap from the Glastonbury Festival held in July.
Prior to the festival, a confidential letter circulated among various music industry figures and performers, urging Michael Eavis, the festival’s founder, to disinvite Kneecap from the event.
Once the letter became public, it sparked backlash from numerous artists and industry insiders, ultimately allowing Kneecap to maintain their scheduled performance.
David Levy, representing the WME talent agency and acting as Dua Lipa’s agent, was among those who signed the contentious letter.
According to a source within the music business cited by The Mail on Sunday, Dua Lipa’s decision to terminate Levy’s contract was influenced by her strong pro-Palestinian views, which conflicted with Levy’s stance.
“She perceives him as endorsing Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the harsh treatment of Palestinians, a position clearly reflected in the letter he signed and sent to Michael Eavis,” the insider revealed.
Kneecap has faced ongoing controversy, including allegations of supporting militant groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, accusations the band has consistently denied.
In a related legal matter, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged in May under UK terrorism laws for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a performance last November. His case is scheduled for a hearing later this month.
Recently, Kneecap criticized the Canadian government after being barred from entering the country amid claims that their support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah equated to endorsing political violence and terrorism.
The band condemned statements made by Vince Gasparro, a Liberal MP and parliamentary secretary focused on crime prevention, labeling his remarks as “completely false and malicious,” and indicated plans to pursue legal action against him.
Meanwhile, a growing number of pro-Palestinian musicians are urging the music industry to adopt a firmer position.
Last Friday, over 400 artists and record labels united under the “No Music for Genocide” campaign, withdrawing their music from Israel in protest of its military operations in Gaza and the ongoing displacement in the occupied West Bank.
The initiative described this collective action as “a meaningful step toward supporting Palestinian calls to isolate and delegitimize Israel as it continues its actions with impunity on the global stage.”
Attempts to obtain a statement from WME management regarding the situation have so far been unsuccessful.