{"id":33987,"date":"2025-09-23T22:29:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T22:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/33987\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T22:29:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T22:29:06","slug":"dua-lipa-denies-firing-agent-over-attempt-to-ban-kneecap-from-glastonbury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/33987\/","title":{"rendered":"Dua Lipa Denies Firing Agent Over Attempt to Ban Kneecap from Glastonbury"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dua Lipa<\/a> and her talent agency, William Morris Endeavor (WME), have responded to a report that she fired her European agent, David Levy, after he signed a leaked letter<\/a> calling for pro-Palestinian rappers Kneecap to be banned from Glastonbury Festival.<\/p>\n

Over the weekend, The Daily Mail<\/a> reported that Levy was the first signatory among many Jewish music industry figures who sent a letter to Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily requesting Kneecap\u2019s removal from this year\u2019s festival.<\/p>\n

Get Dua Lipa Tickets Here<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cDua made sure through her people that David Levy wasn\u2019t working on her music any more. She is very openly pro-Palestine and that doesn\u2019t align with David,\u201d a source told the\u00a0Daily Mail. \u201cShe views him as being a supporter of Israel\u2019s war in Gaza, and the terrible treatment of the Palestinians and that was made very clear through the letter that he signed and sent to Michael Eavis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related Video<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, September 23rd, Dua Lipa posted a statement on her Instagram Stories<\/a> distancing herself from Levy while also clarifying the report.\u00a0\u201cI do not condone the actions of David Levy or other music executives toward an artist speaking their truth,\u201d she wrote. \u201cI also cannot ignore how this has been handled in the press. Not only was the story completely false, but the language used by The Daily Mail has been deliberately inflammatory, crafted purely for clickbait, clearly designed to fuel online division.\u201d<\/p>\n

The artist continued, \u201cIt is always Free Palestine but exploiting a global tragedy in order to sell newspapers is something I find deeply troubling.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for WME also strongly rebuked the tabloid\u2019s claims\u00a0in a statement issued to NME<\/a>: \u201cReports suggesting that Dua Lipa or her management dismissed one of our agents because of his political views are categorically false. David Levy played a role in Dua\u2019s early career (2016-2019) and as is customary, is credited both internally and in industry journals as being a member of the team. When he moved out of London in 2019, he transitioned into an advisory role and has not been involved in Dua\u2019s day-to-day business since. Levy fully removed himself from the project among others earlier this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dua Lipa has been open with her views about the Gaza conflict. In a 2024 interview with Rolling Stone<\/a>, she called for a \u201chumanitarian cease-fire\u201d in Israel\u2019s attack on the Palestinian people, adding that she \u201cfeel[s] so bad for every Israeli life lost and what happened on October 7th.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment, what we have to look at is how many lives have been lost in Gaza, and the innocent civilians, and the lives that are just being lost,\u201d she continued. \u201cThere are just not enough world leaders that are taking a stand and speaking up about the humanitarian crisis that\u2019s happening, the humanitarian cease-fire that has to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later that year, Dua Lipa reiterated her stance<\/a> on Instagram after dozens of Palestinians were killed in attacks on Gaza displacement camps. \u201cBurning children alive can never be justified,\u201d she wrote. \u201cThe whole world is mobilising to stop the Israeli genocide. Please show your solidarity with Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kneecap\u2019s Glastonbury appearance<\/a> went on as planned, although their set was not livestreamed by the BBC. While the performance led to a criminal investigation, the case was\u00a0dropped<\/a> shortly after.<\/p>\n

Since making pro-Palestine messaging central to their performance at Coachella 2025<\/a>, Kneecap has faced a firestorm of backlash, including an investigation by UK authorities into resurfaced videos of the rap trio allegedly expressing support for Hamas and Hezbollah.<\/p>\n

Although Kneecap issued a statement clarifying they \u201cdo not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,\u201d member Mo Chara was later charged with a terror offense<\/a> for allegedly displaying a flag supporting Hezbollah. The case has been adjourned until later this month.<\/p>\n

Most recently, the group was banned from Canada<\/a> ahead of their scheduled October tour.<\/p>\n

Dua Lipa is currently on the North American leg<\/a> of her \u201cRadical Optimism Tour.\u201d Read our review<\/a> of one of her recent New York City shows, and get tickets here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: This article was updated on September 23rd with statements from Dua Lipa and William Morris Endeavor.<\/p>\n