Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur have reportedly been barred from entering the United Kingdom, preventing them from appearing at SXSW London. According to reports, the U.K. Home Office cancelled Uygur’s electronic travel authorisation after concluding that his presence would not be conducive to the public good. Piker’s ban has not been officially confirmed by the Home Office, but he said on X that his visa was also revoked.
Uygur said he was stopped from boarding a flight to London for SXSW London and a speaking engagement at Oxford, claiming he was banned for criticizing Israel. Piker echoed that claim in response, accusing the U.K. of acting at Israel’s behest and saying Western governments are betraying liberal values. The remarks have intensified attention around the case and drawn wider online reaction.
The two were scheduled to appear at SXSW London on separate panels. Piker was set to join a discussion titled “How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet,” while Uygur was listed for a session called “Techno-Feudalism is Here. Who Are the Lords?”
The Times of London reported that U.K. home secretary Shabana Mahmood’s decision was linked to Uygur’s recent exchanges with Piers Morgan, including comments described as concerning about the U.K.’s grooming gangs scandal. The report also said officials believed his presence could increase antisemitism because of his rhetoric after the October 7, 2023 attacks. Uygur has also faced criticism for denying the Armenian genocide and for alleged misogynistic remarks.
Piker has also been criticized for past inflammatory statements, including comments that “America deserved 9/11” and for voicing support for Hamas, which is designated a proscribed terror group in the U.K.
SXSW London did not respond to requests for comment. The Home Office also did not publicly comment beyond the reported cancellation of Uygur’s travel authorization. The incident has added to scrutiny of speech, immigration decisions, and political criticism tied to international conflicts, particularly as both figures remain influential and controversial voices online.
