Hasan Piker has criticized SXSW London after he says the event failed to defend him following the revocation of his U.K. visa and his removal from the festival lineup. The 34-year-old political commentator had been scheduled to speak at the London edition of SXSW, and his uncle, Cenk Uygur, was also barred from entering the country despite being set to appear at the event. Piker said the travel restrictions were imposed because of his criticism of Israel, and he used social media and a Twitch stream to condemn both the decision and SXSW London’s response.
On June 1, 2026, Piker posted on X that SXSW was a minor part of his trip to the U.K., but said the organization “totally didn’t defend” him or Uygur and called them “actual losers.” He added that anyone who bought a ticket expecting to see him should request a refund. In a separate post, he said he had spent more than a decade fighting the far right and said he never expected a Labour government would ban him from entering the U.K., describing the situation as a troubling sign for the West.
SXSW London responded through a spokesperson, telling TheWrap that U.K. entry decisions are made by the Home Office and not the festival. The spokesperson said SXSW London’s role is to bring together diverse voices and perspectives and said the organization remained focused on its program, which includes more than 800 speakers, artists, and screenings aimed at fostering open dialogue and exchange of ideas.
Piker had been scheduled for a panel titled “How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet,” alongside commentator Ash Sarkar. Sarkar also announced on X that she withdrew from the event in solidarity and shared the email she sent to organizers. Her departure added to the criticism surrounding the festival’s handling of the situation.
During a Twitch stream, Piker escalated his criticism of SXSW London, calling its statement “disgusting.” He said he was not being paid for the appearance and was instead contributing as a favor, while the festival was benefiting from his image and likeness. Piker claimed that once the Home Office intervened and revoked his visa, SXSW London gave him little support, describing its public response as limited to deleting his speaker page and offering what he viewed as a vague explanation that it had to comply with government demands.
The dispute has drawn attention to tensions around political speech, visa decisions, and event organizers’ responsibilities when speakers are denied entry. Piker framed the incident as part of a broader political climate, while SXSW London maintained that it could not control border decisions and remained committed to its scheduled programming.
