Mary Wallopers cut from Victorious Festival over Palestine flag

The Irish band was stopped at Victorious Festival after displaying a Palestinian flag and calling for Free Palestine.

Mary Wallopers cut from Victorious Festival after Palestine flag display

The Mary Wallopers were performing at Victorious Festival in Portsmouth on Friday when their set was halted after a Palestinian flag appeared on stage and a call for Free Palestine was heard. The festival policy bans flags on site, and a spokesperson says the decision to cut the sound came after the band used a chant that officials say has a discriminatory context. The band later claimed they had never faced such action in six years of performing.

Social media from attendees captured the moment of the interruption and the crowd’s reaction, including chants of support and frustration. NME contacted Victorious Festival for comment. The event’s operator pointed to policy enforcement while affirming the right of artists to express views within the festival’s inclusive framework. The episode comes as KKR backed groups face heightened scrutiny and as other festivals connected to the same investor have publicly questioned or distanced themselves from those ties.

This incident highlights a wider clash between artistic expression and event policies in a time of politically charged entertainment. It raises questions about how venues balance freedom of speech with crowd safety and inclusivity rules. The role of corporate ownership and investor concerns in shaping cultural events adds another layer of complexity, potentially chilling future performances that touch on contested topics. The swift cut to sound shows the fragility of live music spaces when politics and policy collide, and it may prompt festivals to rethink flag rules, dialogue with artists, and how they respond to chant the lines that spark wider debate.

Highlights

Culture remains a space where voices matter even when audiences push back.