Festival in the UK contributes to Palestine following cancellation of The Mary Wallopers gig

Headline: Victorious Festival Faces Backlash After Cutting Mary Wallopers' Set and No-Flag Policy

The Victorious Festival in the UK is currently facing a wave of criticism and potential impact on its lineup and attendance, following the controversial decision to cut short Irish folk band The Mary Wallopers' performance due to their display of the Palestinian flag.

The Mary Wallopers, in response to the incident, shared a video of their performance being abruptly ended and posted a statement on Instagram, expressing their disappointment and condemning the "discriminatory" chant that led to their set being cut short - a call for "Free Palestine." The band also highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where a famine has been declared and at least 65 people have been killed by Israeli attacks.

Fellow artists Kneecap, Academic, and Clifford have spoken out in support of The Mary Wallopers, with Kneecap expressing solidarity on X (formerly known as Twitter), stating, "Speak up against genocide in England and you're treated like a criminal. Up the Mary Wallopers."

In response to the backlash, Victorious Festival announced that it will be making a "substantial donation to humanitarian relief efforts for the Palestinian people." However, the organization making the donation is not explicitly named in the available information.

The festival organizers have apologized for mishandling the situation and have stated their support for the artists' freedom to express their views on stage. However, they have also implemented a no-flag policy to minimize safety concerns.

The withdrawal of Academic and Clifford from the Victorious Festival may signal a wider movement of artists standing in solidarity with The Mary Wallopers. The Mary Wallopers themselves have deemed Victorious Festival's statement as misleading.

The actions of Kneecap, Academic, and Clifford could potentially put pressure on the Victorious Festival to reconsider its policies regarding artists' freedom of expression. The artists' withdrawal from the festival may add to the growing backlash against its handling of The Mary Wallopers' performance.

Despite the controversy, the Victorious Festival remains committed to providing a platform for music and culture, and it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold in the coming days.

Festival in the UK contributes to Palestine following cancellation of The Mary Wallopers gig