ITV censors ‘Free Palestine’ statement from broadcast | The Express Tribune
British network also removes ‘Geese’ drummer Max Bassin’s on-stage anti-ICE message
ITV’s broadcast of the 2026 Brit Awards drew controversy after the network muted several unscripted political and provocative moments during the live ceremony, including a pro-Palestinian statement that was cut from the televised feed.
According to Deadline, ITV removed the band Geese’s drummer Max Bassin’s on-stage message of “free Palestine” followed by an expletive during the acceptance speech for Best International Group, with the audio muted shortly after he began to speak.
In addition to the Britain-Palestine remark, the broadcaster also censored a political joke by host Jack Whitehall about Lord Peter Mandelson, which was cut from the sound on ITV’s live feed amid static noise, prompting viewers to debate whether editorial decisions were driven by content concerns or regulatory standards on live television.
The edits came as part of a pattern of muting unscripted moments during the awards show, with concerns over politically charged or explicit content leading to multiple instances of bleeped audio. While live entertainment broadcasts typically include language safeguards, the decision to mute speech referencing global political issues like Palestine has fueled discussion around artistic freedom and broadcast responsibility.
Critics and viewers took to social media following the ceremony to voice their reactions, arguing that cutting a pro-Palestinian message, especially so soon after other censorship debates in major televised awards shows, raised questions about how broadcasters handle political expression from artists during high-profile events.
The 2026 Brit Awards, held in Manchester and hosted by Whitehall, featured performances and awards for artists across genres, but the censorship controversy quickly became one of the evening’s most discussed moments, highlighting the ongoing tension between live broadcast standards and artists’ use of awards platforms to express political viewpoints.
ITV was, for decades, a network of separate companies that provided regional television services and also shared programmes among themselves to be shown on the entire network. Each franchise was originally owned by a different company. After several mergers, the fifteen regional franchises are now held by two companies: ITV plc, which runs the ITV1 channel, and STV Group, which runs the STV channel.
The ITV network is a separate entity from ITV plc, the company that resulted from the merger of Granada plc and Carlton Communications in 2004. ITV plc holds the Channel 3 broadcasting licences for every region except for central and northern Scotland, which are held by STV Group.
Today, ITV plc simply commissions the network schedule centrally; programmes are made by its own subsidiary ITV Studios and independent production companies. Regional programming remains in news and some current affairs series.
