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- Several artists have pulled out of SXSW London, which debuted this year in Shoreditch from June 2-7, following the unannounced appearance of former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
- LVRA, jasmine.4.t, and Sam Akpro are among the artists who have withdrawn from the festival. LVRA stated the festival booked speakers from organizations "deeply complicit in the current...
- The festival features headliners Tems and Mabel,with additional performances by Alice Glass,Heartworms,and The objective.
Artists are boycotting SXSW London! The central reason: the unexpected appearance of Tony Blair and his discussion on AI, with critics calling it “artwashing.” LVRA, jasmine.4.t, and Sam Akpro are among those who’ve withdrawn from the festival, citing Blair’s ties and the ethics of the event. Former Prime Minister David Cameron was also listed. This mirrors prior protests at SXSW in Texas, which led to the festival cutting ties with certain partners. News Directory 3 provides you with the latest on this growing controversy.Will SXSW London respond to the artists’ concerns? Discover what’s next for the festival.
artists Boycott SXSW London over Tony Blair Appearance
Several artists have pulled out of SXSW London, which debuted this year in Shoreditch from June 2-7, following the unannounced appearance of former Prime Minister Tony Blair. The controversy centers on Blair’s participation in a conference discussion about AI and government, a move critics are calling “artwashing.”
LVRA, jasmine.4.t, and Sam Akpro are among the artists who have withdrawn from the festival. LVRA stated the festival booked speakers from organizations “deeply complicit in the current genocide of Palestinian people.”
The festival features headliners Tems and Mabel,with additional performances by Alice Glass,Heartworms,and The objective. Jane Goodall and Wyclef Jean are also scheduled to give talks.
Blair’s appearance followed a government trial indicating AI could considerably increase civil servant efficiency. He advocated for embracing AI technology, envisioning “AI tutors, AI nurses, AI doctors.”
Another former Prime Minister, David Cameron, was also listed on a leaked SXSW London schedule for a discussion on “Healthcare Revolution.” Neither Blair nor Cameron were initially listed on the official online speaker lineup.
Steady stream of artists pulling out
We need more
It begins today https://t.co/oyifMkBIlz pic.twitter.com/YTpHBofS4F
— Matt Kennard (@kennardmatt) june 2, 2025
The unannounced talk with war criminal Tony Blair went ahead this morning at SXSW london (@sxswlndn)
Disgraceful
This festival should be boycotted by all. Now – and forever
Blair destroyed a whole country of 25 million people based on lies. He must face justice pic.twitter.com/e1P0LqbYrY
— Matt Kennard (@kennardmatt) June 2, 2025
Much love to @kennardmatt for exposing the Tony Blair and David Cameron events at SXSW London today and tomorrow.
It certainly prompted me to take a closer look at the lineup and see that NATO was also publicly part of the festival.
It has since prompted others to boycott.
– Pole (@inquilabzin) June 2, 2025
This controversy follows similar boycotts of SXSW in Texas last year, where artists protested the festival’s ties to the U.S. Army and defense contractors. Kneecap cited the platforming of Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems as reasons for their boycott, noting their role in weapons sales related to Palestinian casualties.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responded to the previous boycotts by stating his support for the U.S.military in Texas. SXSW issued a statement disagreeing with Abbott and affirming its commitment to diverse viewpoints. The festival later cut ties with the U.S. Army and RTX for the 2025 event.
What’s next
The situation at SXSW London remains fluid as more artists and attendees weigh in on the ethical implications of the festival’s speaker choices. It remains to be seen if SXSW london will address the concerns raised by the boycotting artists.