Massive Attack banned from Singapore after pro-Palestine protest at concert

British trip-hop group Massive Attack has been banned indefinitely from performing in Singapore following their concert on July 29, 2026. During the performance, band members Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall displayed a Palestinian flag and chanted "Free Palestine," actions that drew immediate scrutiny from local authorities.

Following the event, the musicians were detained by police, questioned separately, and subjected to hotel room searches, while their passports were temporarily confiscated. The Singaporean police and the Media Development Authority issued a joint statement warning that such political expressions violate laws prohibiting the public display of foreign flags and may threaten religious and racial harmony in the country. The authorities emphasized that they take such actions seriously to maintain social cohesion.

In response to the crackdown, the band characterized the treatment they received as "surprising and disappointing," noting that the audience had joined in the chanting spontaneously. Despite the group's public stance of pride regarding their actions, they remain permanently barred from returning to the city-state for future performances.