Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur Denied UK Entry Over ETA Revocation

Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, known online as HasanAbi, and his uncle broadcaster Cenk Uygur will not be able to travel to the United Kingdom for their scheduled appearances at SXSW London.

The UK Home Office confirmed to Variety that both individuals' Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) had been revoked "on the grounds that their presence in the U.K. may not be conducive to the public good. Decisions to refuse or cancel an ETA on these grounds are based solely on an assessment of the potential risk an individual may pose to U.K. society."

Following the announcement, both men took to social media to express their concerns about the decision. Uygur shared his perspective on X, stating: "I've been banned from the UK. I tried to get on a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford. I've been banned for criticizing Israel. Are we free anymore? This is oppression of Western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country!"

Piker also posted on the platform: "the uk has revoked my visa as well. all at the behest of israel. the west is betraying 'liberal values' for a genocidal fascist foreign government. soon we will all become israel."

Piker had been scheduled to participate in a panel discussion titled "How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet," while Uygur was set to speak at a separate panel called "Techno-Feudalism is Here. Who Are the Lords?"