Banksy surprised the crowd by launching an inflatable migrant boat during Idles’ performance at Glastonbury. The artwork sparked discussions about immigration and received strong reactions from politicians.<\/p>\n \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
During the 2024 Glastonbury Festival<\/a>, an unexpected performance art piece by Banksy<\/b> captured the crowd’s attention.<\/p>\n While the band Idles was playing on the Other Stage, an inflatable life raft filled with dummy migrants was launched across the audience.<\/p>\n Many festival-goers initially believed it was part of Idles’ show due to the band’s known stance of empathizing with immigrants<\/b>.<\/p>\n However, a representative later clarified that Banksy was behind the stunt and that the band was unaware of it until after their performance.<\/p>\n Banksy has a strong connection with Glastonbury. In 2019, he designed the Union flag-emblazoned stab-proof vest for Stormzy’s Pyramid stage<\/b> headline set.<\/p>\n His works often appear at the festival, including a 2010 piece that reappeared in 2022 for the festival’s 50th anniversary.<\/p>\n The artist’s latest piece, featuring the inflatable migrant boat, references the small boats carrying migrants across the Channel\u2014a hot topic in UK immigration policy.<\/p>\n The boat was launched during Idles’ song “Danny Nedelko,”<\/b> which has powerful lyrics celebrating immigrants:<\/p>\n “My blood brother is an immigrant<\/i><\/p>\n A beautiful immigrant<\/i><\/p>\n My blood brother\u2019s Freddie Mercury<\/i><\/p>\n A Nigerian mother of three<\/i><\/p>\n He\u2019s made of bones, he\u2019s made of blood<\/i><\/p>\n He\u2019s made of flesh, he\u2019s made of love<\/i><\/p>\n He\u2019s made of you, he\u2019s made of me<\/i><\/p>\n Unity<\/i><\/p>\n Fear leads to panic; panic leads to pain<\/i><\/p>\n Pain leads to anger; anger leads to hate.”<\/i><\/p>\n Many UK political figures noticed the piece. Home Secretary James Cleverly condemned the artwork<\/b>, calling it a “celebration of loss of life<\/i>” and criticizing it as a misplaced attempt at humor.<\/p>\n Small boats crossings are deadly and have cost the lives of too many people.<\/p>\n Festival goers cosplaying as migrants, and celebrating the actions of people smugglers, while they party is awful.<\/p>\n Whatever your political views, this isn\u2019t something we should trivialise. https:\/\/t.co\/t54igK4b02<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 James Cleverly\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 (@JamesCleverly) June 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nBanksy’s History with Glastonbury and the Immigration Crisis<\/h2>\n
Political Reactions and Controversies<\/h2>\n
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