Amyl & The Sniffers Speak Out for Palestine and Criticize J.K. Rowling at Reading Festival 2025

Amyl & The Sniffers boldly voiced support for Palestine and fired shots at J.K. Rowling during their Reading Festival 2025 set.

A Raw Moment of Truth on the Reading Festival Stage

Few moments at music festivals strike a chord quite like when artists use the spotlight to speak their minds on pressing issues. At Reading Festival 2025, Amyl & The Sniffers frontwoman Amy Taylor didn’t hold back. Between songs, she took a pause—not to catch her breath, but to deliver a fiery message to the crowd.

With raw intensity, Amy declared: “I want to say fuck J.K. Rowling, and I want to say my heart is with the people in Palestine. It takes nothing to think about that kind of thing and talk about that kind of thing, and any kind of action is some kind of action. What else can I say? I guess fuck Trum, haha! That’s it, and I’ll leave it at that.”

Amy Taylor and Amyl & The Sniffers lighting up the stage with passion and punk spirit.

That moment wasn’t just about a rant—it was a call to awareness and action, underscoring the band’s commitment to speaking up for causes they believe in.

The Political Pulse of Reading Festival 2025

Amyl & The Sniffers were part of a larger wave of artists using their platforms at Reading Festival to confront political issues head-on, notably the conflict in Gaza and the situation in Palestine.

Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds did not shy away from the subject either. Reflecting on his early awareness of the region's struggles, he painted a stark picture of injustice: “Back in 2010, I was beginning to learn about how Israel treated Palestinians like second-class citizens. It subjected them to constant intimidation, humiliation, subjugation, and forced them to live in what was often described as an open-air prison.”

He continued, sharpening the focus on recent horrors:

“That was 15 years ago. We’ve all seen just how fucking horrific things we've got now. We’ve seen the firepower equivalent of six Hiroshima atomic bombs dropped on Gaza in the last two years, every single school and university destroyed. Almost 300 journalists murdered.”

This chilling assessment served as a stark reminder of ongoing violence and suffering in the region.

Artists Rallying for Change: From Hozier to Bring Me The Horizon

The spirit of activism was contagious across Reading Festival’s stages. Hozier used his performance to speak about the plight of Palestinians and advocate for equality, voicing hopes for a future where “Safety and security for everybody in the Middle East means seeing a Palestine that’s free from occupation, that’s free from these cycles of genocide and violence, and it means seeing a Palestine that’s free to move towards meaningful self-determination and statehood.”

Meanwhile, Bring Me The Horizon ended their set on a powerful note by waving Palestinian flags during their closing track ‘Throne,’ lighting up the crowd in a visual show of solidarity. Their electrifying performance earned them a five-star review, highlighting how music and message can blend into a potent force.

Festival Fallout: The Mary Wallopers and the Victorious Festival Controversy

The political charge extended beyond Reading. Over at Victorious Festival, tensions flared when Irish band The Mary Wallopers had their set cut short mid-song after they displayed a Palestinian flag on stage. Festival organizers removed the flag and silenced their sound, prompting boos from the crowd.

In response, the band led a chant of “free, free Palestine,” turning their curtailed performance into a moment of protest. They later took to social media to call out the festival’s claims that their sound was cut due to a “discriminatory chant,” clarifying that it was actually their support for Palestine that sparked the shutdown.

Their statement was clear:

“The festival have released a misleading statement to the press claiming they cut our sound because of a discriminatory chant and not the band’s call to Free Palestine... The same crew member is later heard in the video saying, ‘you aren’t playing until the flag is removed’.”

This incident highlighted the ongoing tension between artists’ freedoms to express political views and festival policies.

Keeping Fans Connected: How to Follow Reading & Leeds Festival 2025

For those unable to attend in person, numerous options allowed music lovers to stay connected. Live blogs and broadcasts ensured that fans could experience performances and speeches from the comfort of home, keeping the conversation alive across digital platforms.

A Festival Scene Charged with Emotion and Activism

Reading Festival 2025 wasn’t just a showcase of music—it was a stage for voices demanding change, bridging artistry with activism. From Amy Taylor’s blunt call-outs to Rou Reynolds’ sobering reflections, to Hozier’s heartfelt advocacy and Bring Me The Horizon’s visual solidarity, the festival echoed with a sense of urgency and hope.

As Amy Taylor put it, “any kind of action is some kind of action.” It’s a reminder that every shout, every flag, every song can chip away at silence and spark awareness. In a world where music and politics intersect, the stage becomes a powerful place for change.

FAQ

• What did Amy Taylor say about J.K. Rowling at Reading 2025? Amy Taylor expressed strong criticism, saying, “I want to say fuck J.K. Rowling,” during her set at Reading Festival 2025.
• Which political issue did Amyl & The Sniffers support during their festival appearance? They voiced support for Palestine and called for awareness and action regarding the conflict.
• How did Enter Shikari address the Gaza situation? Rou Reynolds spoke about the harsh treatment of Palestinians, describing Gaza as an “open-air prison” and highlighting recent devastation.
• What happened to The Mary Wallopers at Victorious Festival? Their set was cut short after they displayed a Palestinian flag, sparking controversy over freedom of expression.
• Did other artists at Reading Festival 2025 also speak out politically? Yes, artists like Hozier and Bring Me The Horizon also publicly supported Palestine and criticized violence in the region.

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