Dua Lipa Rejects Claims She Fired Agent Over Kneecap’s Glastonbury Performance
Dua Lipa has firmly rejected media reports suggesting she cut ties with one of her agents because of his opposition to Irish rap group Kneecap performing at Glastonbury Festival.
A story published by Mail Online claimed that Lipa dismissed music agent David Levy after he signed a letter urging festival organizer Emily Eavis to remove the Belfast-based band, known for their pro-Palestinian views.
Both Lipa and her agency WME denied the report, stressing that Levy has not worked with the star since 2019.
Lipa Responds to Media Reports
In a statement on Instagram, the pop star criticized Levy’s actions but also condemned the way the story was presented in the press.
She wrote:
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“I do not condone the actions of David Levy or any executive trying to silence an artist for expressing their truth.”
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“But the Mail’s story was not only false, it was deliberately written in an inflammatory way to stir division online.”
Adding to her comments, Lipa said she continues to stand with Palestine, but strongly opposed the exploitation of human tragedy for “clickbait headlines and newspaper sales.”
WME Clarifies Levy’s Role
Talent agency WME also issued a statement, confirming Levy had supported Lipa in her early career but had only acted in an advisory role in recent years. He officially stepped away earlier this year to pursue other projects.
The Mail later updated its article, correcting claims that Levy was still managing Lipa. Her father, Dukagjin Lipa, has been managing her career since 2022.
Kneecap at Glastonbury
Despite controversy, Kneecap performed at Glastonbury in June, leading the crowd in chants of “Free Palestine” and criticizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The band’s outspoken set caused the BBC to briefly pull its livestream, though it was later uploaded with only minor edits.
Band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh faces a terrorism-related charge for allegedly holding a Hezbollah flag at a concert last year, something he denies. He has said the flag was thrown on stage and he picked it up without realizing its meaning. His case is still before the courts.
Lipa’s Position on Gaza
Dua Lipa has consistently spoken out about the Gaza war. In May, she condemned Israeli airstrikes on displacement camps in southern Gaza, writing on Instagram:
“Burning children alive can never be justified. The whole world is mobilizing to stop the genocide. Please show your solidarity with Gaza.”
Later, she joined celebrities such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Riz Ahmed, Gary Lineker, and Amelia Dimoldenberg in signing an open letter urging the UK government to halt arms sales to Israel.
The letter stated: “You can’t call it intolerable yet do nothing. The children of Gaza cannot wait another minute. The world is watching, and history will not forget.”
The Wider Conflict
The war, triggered by the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023, has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza.
Israel denies accusations of genocide, saying its military actions are acts of self-defense aimed at dismantling Hamas and rescuing hostages, around 20 of whom remain captive.
Meanwhile, international recognition of Palestine is growing. This week, the UK, France, Canada, and Australia officially recognized a Palestinian state during a United Nations session, marking a major diplomatic shift.