Calls are mounting for the Home Office to prevent prominent US live-streamer Hasan Piker from entering the United Kingdom, following his scheduled appearance at the London SXSW festival in early June. Labour MP David Taylor, representing Hemel Hempstead, has formally urged the Home Office to revoke Mr Piker's visa, asserting that his presence would be "not conducive to the public good."
Who is Hasan Piker?
Hasan Piker is a major online personality boasting over three million followers on Twitch and more than 1.5 million on X (formerly Twitter). He is listed as a speaker at the London SXSW festival, where he is due to participate in a session titled "How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet." The festival describes him as "redefining what political commentary looks like in the digital age," noting that his live streams attract over 30,000 viewers daily.
Controversial remarks
Mr Piker has faced significant backlash for a series of contentious statements. In 2019, he reportedly claimed on a livestream that "America deserved 9/11," a comment he later acknowledged was "inappropriate." More recently, he defended remarks made on the podcast Pod Save America, where he asserted that Hamas was "1,000 times better" than Israel and that he "would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time." In a 2023 interview with Variety, Mr Piker stated he is not antisemitic but rather "anti-Israel."
Political and community backlash
Labour MP David Taylor condemned the festival's decision to invite Mr Piker, stating: "It’s shocking that SXSW would invite someone who has openly supported a proscribed terrorist organisation and spouted these kinds of vile antisemitic rants to speak at their festival. With the unacceptable rise in antisemitism on our streets leaving British Jews in a constant state of anxiety, Hasan Piker is clearly not conducive to the public good. The Home Office must revoke his visa immediately."
The Jewish community group CST also urged organisers to "act responsibly" and not allow the UK to be a "platform" for Mr Piker. In a statement, the group said: "Hasan Piker has a record of promoting rhetoric that includes antisemitic themes, denial of well documented atrocities and apparent support for extremist groups. This is entirely unacceptable, particularly given his large online following. At a time of record levels of antisemitism in the UK, it is vital that all institutions, including event organisers, act responsibly and consider the potential impact of this kind of rhetoric. The UK should not be a platform for individuals who spread hatred or legitimise extremism."
SXSW London's response
SXSW London, which also features speakers such as relationship therapist Esther Perel, Chelsea Clinton, and Ant & Dec, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, in a statement to The Times, the festival said it brings together "a wide range of speakers with different associations, affiliations and perspectives" and that "inclusion in the programme does not imply endorsement of all organisations with whom a speaker may be directly or indirectly affiliated." It added: "SXSW London is built as a platform for open exchange across culture, business, creativity and technology, guided by our ethical framework and code of conduct."
Context of visa blocks
The call to block Mr Piker's visa comes after Kanye West, who has used Nazi imagery and faced accusations of antisemitism, was barred from travelling to the UK to headline the Wireless festival. The Government also recently blocked 11 foreign nationals described by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as "far-right agitators" from entering the UK ahead of a Tommy Robinson-led rally in central London. Those reportedly barred include Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, Belgian politician Filip Dewinter, anti-Islam commentator Valentina Gomez, and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek.
