4 days ago
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Organizers of Victorious Festival in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, have come under heavy criticism for cutting of a set by The Mary Wallopers after the Irish folk group displayed a Palestinian flag on stage. Several acts who were also set to play the festival — including The Last Dinner Party, Cliffords and The Academic — canceled their own sets in solidarity with The Mary Wallopers, while festival organizers pledged to make a “substantial donation” to humanitarian relief efforts.
Initially, Victorious organizers said The Mary Wallopers made their own decision to end the set after being informed of the festival’s “long-standing policy of not allowing flags of any kind at the event.” They also claimed the sound was cut because of a discriminatory chant in the crowd.
The band responded by sharing footage from the stage disputing this version of events, prompting organizers to issue a second statement in which they apologized and took accountability.
“Our video clearly shows a Victorious crew member coming on stage, interfering with our show, removing the flag from the stage and then the sound being cut following a chant of ‘Free Palestine’,” said The Mary Wallopers.
Describing The Mary Wallopers as “a fantastic band”, Victorious organizers admitted that, “We didn’t handle the explanation of our policies sensitively or far enough in advance to allow a sensible conclusion to be reached.
“This put the band and our own team in a difficult situation which never should have arisen. We would like to sincerely apologise to all concerned. We absolutely support the right of artists to freely express their views from the stage, within the law and the inclusive nature of the event. Our policy of not allowing flags of any kind, which has been in place for many years for wider event management and safety reasons, is not meant to compromise that right.”
“We accept that, although mics remained live for longer, sound for The Mary Wallopers’ audience was cut as described in the band’s video and that comments after that were not audible to the public.”
English (US) · 