Massive Attack’s Singapore Show Ends With a Palestine Flag, Now Authorities Are Investigating

By Ben Liew • 31 Jul 2026 in Music

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For a band that’s never been shy about wearing its politics on its sleeve, Massive Attack’s long-awaited return to Singapore ended in a way that almost nobody saw coming.

The British trip-hop pioneers are now under investigation by Singapore Police and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) after members Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall held up a Palestinian flag on stage at the end of their concert at The Star Theatre on 29 July. Authorities confirmed that police reports have been lodged and that IMDA is looking into a possible breach of the concert’s licence conditions.

Videos circulating online show the duo raising the flag before leaving the stage with the rest of the band. The moment quickly spread across social media and sparked debate over Singapore’s strict regulations surrounding political expression at public events.

According to Singapore authorities, investigations are ongoing. IMDA has not publicly stated which specific licence condition may have been breached.

More than just the flag

Earlier this year, Del Naja was one of more than 200 people arrested at a mass protest for Palestine at Trafalgar Square in Central London. (image: BBC)

While the flag became the night’s defining image online, concertgoers told local media that the political messaging ran throughout the show.

One attendee told AsiaOne that Del Naja dedicated part of the set to the Palestinian people, prompting sections of the audience to begin chanting “Free Palestine”. The same concertgoer stressed that the band itself did not join in the chant.

The attendee also disputed claims made in a viral Reddit post alleging that Del Naja declared, “I don’t give a f***” before performing a song that triggered the chants. According to the eyewitness, neither statement nor such a song was part of the performance.

Massive Attack’s Act 1.5 show at Clifton Downs. (image: Andre Pattenden / NME)

Instead, Massive Attack reportedly relied on visuals rather than speeches, projecting footage and news reports touching on conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and the US-Iran war, alongside commentary on surveillance technology. The concertgoer described the presentation as “matter-of-factly and starkly” delivered, with the audience drawing their own conclusions.

CNA also reported that the band mentioned they had been required to remove one song from their planned setlist due to “local laws”, although no further details were given.

@sgpowerlah British Band Massive Attack raised the flag during their performance at Star Theatre #singapore ♬ original sound – SGPowerLah

Why Singapore is investigating

The incident has reignited discussion around Singapore’s rules governing political expression in public spaces.

Former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng said on Facebook that police reports had been filed and argued that displaying a foreign national emblem without a permit could contravene Singapore’s Foreign National Emblems (Control of Display) Act, citing guidance issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2023 regarding the Gaza conflict.

In a subsequent post that was later deleted, Cheng called for arrest warrants to be issued against the band and for concert promoter Lushington Entertainments to face action.

Lushington Entertainments has since said it is aware of the reports and will “fully co-operate with the relevant authorities as required.”

Politics has always been part of Massive Attack

In a concert in Bristol, the band displayed a giant Palestinian flag on a screen, announced the alliance of artistes speaking out over Gaza, and invited prominent Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza to speak onstage. (image: B24/7)

None of this comes as a surprise if you’ve followed Massive Attack over the years.

The Bristol outfit has spent decades weaving activism into its music and live shows, speaking out on issues ranging from climate change and surveillance to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The band has supported cultural boycotts of Israel, publicly backed artists speaking out on Gaza, and frequently incorporates political imagery into its concerts.

Whether the Singapore investigation leads to further action remains to be seen. For now, one of the year’s most anticipated gigs is likely to be remembered less for ‘Teardrop’ or ‘Unfinished Sympathy’, and more for the closing image that has travelled far beyond The Star Theatre.