Comedians Boycott Latitude Festival Over Barclays-Israel Ties
Three comedians, Sophie Duker, Grace Campbell, and Alexandra Haddow, have made a bold move by withdrawing from the UK’s Latitude Festival to protest against the festival’s main sponsor, Barclays, and its ties to Israel.
This decision comes on the heels of Irish singer-songwriter CMAT pulling out last week, alongside other musicians like Pillow Queens, Mui Zyu, and Georgia Ruth, as reported by Sky News.
Despite these withdrawals, acts such as Keane, Kasabian, and London Grammar are still slated to perform at the festival in Suffolk from July 25 to 28.
Palestine Action, a protest group, has accused Barclays of having financial interests in Israel’s weapons trade and fossil fuel industry. In response, members of the group vandalized 20 of the bank’s branches across England and Scotland.
Comedian Sophie Duker took to social media to announce her withdrawal from the festival, citing her refusal to support Barclays, which she alleges profits from the production of weaponry used by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Comedians Take a Stand
In a statement, Duker emphasized her commitment to standing against what she considers abhorrent violence, despite facing violent abuse and threats for her stance.
Alexandra Haddow also expressed her decision to boycott the festival on Instagram, stating that she couldn’t accept payment for performing in light of her conscience.
Barclays Responds
Barclays, in response to the controversy, acknowledged the human suffering in Gaza but defended its financial services to defense companies supplying NATO and its allies.
The bank clarified that it does not directly invest in these companies and emphasized the importance of the defense sector to national security. It also highlighted that decisions on arms embargoes to other nations are the responsibility of elected governments.