Dua Lipa has cut ties with her long-standing Jewish manager after he helped draft a letter urging Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily to drop Kneecap, the Belfast rap duo accused of anti-Israel activism and, at times, displaying support for Hezbollah. The development comes as Kneecap performed at Glastonbury despite the controversy surrounding the group and broader tensions around the Gaza conflict.
The manager, David Levy, was the first signatory on a petition-like letter addressed to Eavis and Emily Eavis that urged the festival founders to bar Kneecap from performing, arguing that the acts’ stance could fuel anti-Semitism. The email, which was marked private and confidential, circulated more widely after it leaked, drawing attention to the actions of Levy and other Jewish music-industry figures who signed on behalf of acts they represent. A music-industry source told The Mail on Sunday that Lipa moved to sever ties with Levy through her team, saying she was openly pro-Palestine and did not want to be represented by someone she viewed as a supporter of Israel’s war in Gaza.
Lipa’s team reportedly explained that while she remained with William Morris Endeavor, she would be represented by a different agent there. The decision came even as Kneecap nevertheless took the Glastonbury stage; one member of the group, Liam Og Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, was on bail on terrorism-related charges after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a November gig. His case was adjourned to the end of the month, and police received complaints about the performance but chose not to pursue further action.
The controversy swept broader within the industry. A separate line of reporting indicated that Massive Attack, Bristol-based, also stopped working with Levy because of his stance on the Kneecap matter and the broader Gaza-Israel discourse. The public drama unfolded as Lipa, Kosovan-born and 30, has been an outspoken advocate for the Palestinian cause while repeatedly balancing condemnation of Hamas and concern for Israeli lives lost. In a May 2024 Instagram post she condemned what she called the “Israeli genocide” in Gaza and joined other artists in protests addressing what they described as UK complicity in Gaza.
Lipa’s personal circle and public messaging reflect a nuanced position: she has supported Palestinian rights and criticized Israeli actions, yet she has also condemned Hamas. Her fiancé, actor Callum Turner, has accompanied her through a public arc of advocacy that includes statements about civilians on both sides of the conflict.
This week’s development—Lipa ending her partnership with Levy—adds a new chapter to a broader industry conversation about alignment between artists and managers on political issues and the implications for careers and festival opportunities. Kneecap, meanwhile, remains a focal point of cultural debate around art, protest, and security concerns at large-scale music events. The Glastonbury performance occurred despite the controversy, and police decisions on the matter have left questions about enforcement and safety at large, politically charged festivals.