ITV Censors Political Statements at 2026 Brit Awards Amidst Olivia Dean’s Triumph
Olivia Dean dominated the 2026 Brit Awards, securing four prizes – Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, Pop Act, and Song of the Year for “Rein Me In” (with Sam Fender). However, the ceremony was overshadowed by ITV’s decision to censor several political statements made during acceptance speeches and performances, sparking criticism and debate about free speech at awards shows.
Censored Remarks and Artist Reactions
The broadcaster edited out a “free Palestine” call made during the event, as well as a joke referencing Lord Peter Mandelson during host Jack Whitehall’s opening monologue. Geese drummer Max Bassin’s acceptance speech for International Group was also censored after he voiced support for Palestine and used an expletive, with crowd noise added to obscure his words according to Deadline.
Scottish singer Jacob Alon was seen holding a Palestinian keffiyeh during Sharon Osbourne’s appearance to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award honoring her late husband, Ozzy Osbourne. Alon, who previously chanted “free Palestine” at the 2025 Mercury Prize, continued to demonstrate his support.
Even Noel Gallagher’s acceptance speech for Songwriter of the Year was subject to censorship. He shouted “Up the f***ing Blues” in reference to his favorite football team, Manchester City, but the moment was cut from the broadcast due to the language as reported by Deadline.
ITV’s Explanation and Previous Controversy
A source at ITV initially stated that Bassin’s speech was censored due to strong language. However, when questioned about the removal of the “free Palestine” message, the source explained that the five-second delay between the live event and transmission made precise edits tricky, leading to the removal of both the politically oriented and profane statements as per Deadline. ITV has yet to comment on whether censoring political statements is standard practice at awards and arts events.
The censorship at the Brit Awards follows a similar controversy at the BAFTA Film Awards the previous week, where a racial slur was left in the broadcast although other comments, including a “free Palestine” message from Akinola Davies, were cut.
Dean’s Emotional Wins and Fender’s Praise
Despite the surrounding controversy, Olivia Dean’s night was a resounding success. She became emotional while accepting the Album of the Year prize, expressing gratitude to those who worked on The Art of Loving and highlighting its themes of love as reported by RTÉ. Sam Fender, who collaborated with Dean on “Rein Me In,” also won Best Alternative/Rock Act and praised Dean for her contribution to their hit song, stating she had “made the song her own” according to RTÉ.
Social Media Reaction
Viewers took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the censorship. One user posted, “Free speech and all that…. Bleep bleep. #Brits2026,” while another commented, “I’ve never known the Brits bleep out so much stuff? What is happening #Brits2026” as noted by Deadline.