LONDON — Leftist political commentator Hasan Piker, 35, was denied entry to the United Kingdom, forcing him to cancel a planned trip that included appearances at SXSW London and a speech at the Oxford Union. His Electronic Travel Authorization was revoked just two days before his flight.
Piker learned of the cancellation after his uncle, fellow commentator Cenk Uygur, told him his own visa had been revoked at the airport. Piker then checked his email and found a similar notice.
The official message said his authorization had been canceled because his "presence in the U.K. is not considered to be conducive to the public good." The government offered no further explanation.
Known for incendiary commentary, Piker has built a following of 3 million on Twitch. He streams eight hours a day, seven days a week, generating more than 10,000 hours of content.
Among his past remarks: "America deserved 9/11," "There's a lot we can learn from the Chinese Communist Party" and "Let the streets soak in red capitalist blood." Piker said he later walked back most of those comments, and dismisses critics who he says focus on "like four quotes they keep hammering on."
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Piker has focused heavily on the Gaza conflict, becoming a vocal critic of Israel. He has said, "Hamas is a thousand times better than Israel."
Those comments drew accusations of antisemitism, which Piker calls "ridiculous." He said he has spent his life fighting antisemitism and identifies as a "proud anti-Zionist," arguing that some Zionist institutions use the antisemitism label to silence critics of Israel.
In the weeks before his scheduled trip, several Jewish groups publicly opposed his visit, calling him a "terrorist sympathizer."
Piker had visited Britain multiple times before, including a trip last year, making the sudden cancellation a surprise to him.
His mother, who shares many of his political views, told Rolling Stone she draws the line at his admiration for China. "I'm not in love with China like he is," she said, adding that she worries about her son's safety online, calling the internet "a very savage place."
Piker has described his view of the United States in blunt terms: "People love the culture and promise of America. But they fucking hate the government."
