The O2 arena in London has issued a formal apology after security staff mistakenly confiscated football shirts displaying the word 'Palestine' from two separate attendees at a Lorde concert on Sunday night. The incident, which the venue attributed to a 'wrong judgement call', has sparked debate over freedom of expression and inconsistent policy enforcement at major events.
Confrontation at the Concert
Francesca Humi and Chloe Grace Laws, both 30 years old, were individually stopped by O2 security personnel during the New Zealand pop star's performance. They were informed that their FC Palestina shirts, which bore the name 'Palestine', violated venue policy and would have to be removed, or they would face ejection from the event.
Staff members claimed that wearing garments featuring the names, flags, or emblems of individual nations was prohibited, suggesting it could cause offence to other concert-goers. However, Humi reported seeing a man wearing an Irish Gaelic football jersey who was not asked to remove it.
Humi was escorted to a confiscated items desk, while Laws was required to deposit her shirt in the cloakroom at a cost of £5. Laws noted that the young security guard accompanying her was sympathetic, revealing that at a previous Haim concert on 28 October, Israeli flags had been banned.
Venue's Response and Policy Clarification
In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesperson for The O2 directly contradicted the staff's actions, clarifying that the arena does not have a policy prohibiting clothing that displays social causes, religion, politics, or nationality. While exceptions are sometimes made for sports team attire as a risk-control measure at specific events, no such restrictions were in place for Lorde's two concerts this month.
The spokesperson admitted that a misinterpretation of policies and a failure to follow correct escalation procedures led to the error. 'We don't get every decision right, all of the time, and regrettably on this occasion, the wrong judgment call was made in relation to two individuals,' the statement read. 'For that, we sincerely apologise.'
In response to the incident, the venue has committed to reviewing its procedures and staff training to prevent a recurrence. Notably, this statement closely mirrors one issued in August when a man was denied entry to a Peter Kay performance for wearing a 'Free Gaza' shirt.
Lorde's Stance and Fan Motivations
The incident is particularly resonant given Lorde's own vocal support for Palestine. The 29-year-old artist has previously spoken out in favour of Palestinian rights, and during her live performances, the stage lights flash red, white, and green – the colours of the Palestinian flag. She has also been heard shouting 'Free Palestine' at her concerts and is among the artists who have removed their music from streaming services in Israel.
For Francesca Humi, Lorde's advocacy was the very reason she wore her FC Palestina shirt. She shared a personal connection, explaining, 'My grandfather was a Jewish refugee from Austria... he could find safety in Palestine even though it was occupied.' She expressed frustration that anti-Zionism is often 'weaponised as antisemitism'.
Both fans have been contacted directly by Steve Sayer, senior vice president and general manager of The O2, who apologised, offered to reimburse their tickets and expenses, and invited them to a future event free of charge. Humi stated she would donate any reimbursement to a Palestinian organisation.
Reflecting on the experience, Chloe Grace Laws said the confrontation 'put a dampener on my evening' and highlighted the problem of leaving 'vague policy on political terms' to the discretion of individual staff members. Humi emphasised that she did not see her shirt as a political statement but as a stand for human rights, noting the broader context of restricting support for Palestine.
