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| Dua Lipa makes a decisive career move |
The disagreement started over a private letter sent to Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis . David Levy was the first person to sign the email, which called for the festival to cancel Kneecap's performance . The letter accused the Belfast-based rap trio of supporting Hezbollah militants and fueling anti-Semitism . It was marked as private but was later leaked to the public . This revealed the actions of Levy and other Jewish music figures who signed it .
For Dua Lipa, this was the final straw. An industry source explained that the singer is very openly pro-Palestine and could not work with someone whose actions opposed that stance . The source said Lipa views Levy as a supporter of Israel's war in Gaza and the terrible treatment of Palestinians . She made sure through her team that Levy would no longer work on her music . The singer remains with the William Morris Endeavor (WME) agency but is now represented by a different agent there .
The group at the center of the dispute, Kneecap, performed at Glastonbury as planned . The performance happened despite the campaign against them. One of the group's members, Mo Chara, was on bail at the time facing a terrorism charge . He was charged after allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag during a concert in November of last year. His trial is set for later this month . Police looked into complaints about the band's Glastonbury set but chose not to take any further action .
This is not the first time Kneecap has faced criticism. The band was also accused of supporting Hezbollah and Hamas during their performance at the Coachella festival in April . More recently, the Canadian government banned the group from entering the country . Officials accused them of supporting political violence and terrorism. Kneecap strongly denies these claims. They said the accusations are wholly untrue and deeply malicious .
Dua Lipa has a long history of supporting the Palestinian cause . In May 2024, she spoke to her 88 million Instagram followers. She denounced what she called the Israeli genocide in Gaza . She also joined other artists to protest against Britain's complicity in the war . At the same time, she has condemned the actions of Hamas. She expressed sorrow for every Israeli life lost in the October 7 attacks .
This is not the first time the singer has faced backlash for her political beliefs. Before she headlined Glastonbury in 2024, she spoke about the issue. She said she double- and triple-checks herself when speaking about political things . She knows it will always be met with other people's opinions and backlash. But she said she is willing to take that hit for the greater good .
The fallout from the leaked letter has affected others in the music business. The band Massive Attack has also cut ties with David Levy because of his stance . This event is part of a larger trend in the industry. On Friday, more than 400 musicians and labels signed the No Music for Genocide initiative . They are removing their music from Israel because of its war in Gaza. The initiative said this is a step to honor Palestinian demands to isolate Israel .
The incident shows how political issues are increasingly affecting the world of music and entertainment. For major artists like Dua Lipa, business relationships can depend on shared political values . The split with her manager shows she is committed to aligning her career with her beliefs. It also highlights the ongoing debate over artistic expression and political statements at major events like Glastonbury .
As for Kneecap, member Mo Chara's trial on a terrorism-related charge is scheduled for the end of this month . The outcome may influence the continuing discussion about the band and the limits of political speech in music.